Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed, noted that there was "no reason to panic", as Maldives, on Friday, temporarily quarantined Kuredu Island Resort and Spa, Summer Island Maldives and Thinadhoo in Vaavu Atoll over COVID-19, followed by a suspension on Thinadhoo's lockdown this Saturday.
Thinadhoo was temporarily quarantined when an Italian tourist exhibited signs of the virus. Isolated in the quarantine facility in Farukolhufushi, Kaafu Atoll, the guest remains in observation and will be retested after 24 hours.
Speaking at a press conference held late Friday, Minister Waheed said that "Maldives is on white alert. There is no reason to panic".
Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen assured that Maldives was equipped to handle the situation, adding that "this is a challenging circumstance for every country".
According to Summer Island, two French guests had visited their resident doctor with a high temperature on March 5, and was promptly quarantined to their rooms. On Friday, the 33-year-old Indian doctor reported shortness of breath and coughing. Under guidance from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the doctor was also placed in quarantine.
HPA officials will transport the three individuals to the quarantine facility in Farukolhufushi for testing.
Three additional staff have isolated themselves for having a mild cough, as directed by the HPA.
The health agency placed Kuredu on lockdown after an Italian guest who holidayed on the island later tested positive for the virus after the tourist returned to Italy.
Italy has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Europe, with more than 4,000 confirmed infections and over 200 fatalities.
COVID-19, which originated from Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China last December, has infected over 103,000 people and claimed more than 3,500 lives across the world.
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