The Edition
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linkedin icon

Latest

Maldives halts direct flights from Italy

Ahmed Aiham
07 March 2020, MVT 14:25
During the press conference held late Friday at Dharubaaruge. PHOTO: AHMED AWSHAN ILYAS / MIHAARU
Ahmed Aiham
07 March 2020, MVT 14:25

The Maldivian government on Saturday, announced the decision to halt direct and transit flights from Italy, in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Speaking at a press conference held late Friday, Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed noted that sanctions will be in effect from Sunday onwards.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Friday, quarantined a Maldivian who arrived from Italy. HPA stated that Maldivians who arrive from countries where coronavirus is prevalent, will undergo two weeks in an isolation facility before being released.

At present, a Maldivian mother and her child, who also arrived from Italy, are quarantined at the isolation facility established at Farukolhufushi. In addition, three Italian tourists holidaying at Kuredu Island Resort and the resident doctor were placed under observation.

Maldives currently imposes travel sanctions on China, Iran, Italy and parts of South Korea.

The government also established abandoned resort island Villivaru into a quarantine facility.

Italy has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, with more than 3,000 confirmed infections and over 100 fatalities.

The novel coronavirus outbreak has so far been detected in 81 countries, most prevalently in China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

COVID-19, which originated from Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China last December, has infected over 100,000 people and claimed more than 3,500 lives across the world.

MORE ON NEWS