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HPA lifts restrictions from Paradise Island Resort

Fathmath Shaahunaz
20 March 2020, MVT 14:28
Paradise Island Resort of Villa Hotels. PHOTO/PARADISE ISLAND
Fathmath Shaahunaz
20 March 2020, MVT 14:28

Health Protection Agency (HPA) lifted the monitoring measures enacted on Paradise Island Resort after the samples taken from the island tested negative for COVID-19.

The resort was placed on lockdown Thursday after eight Maldivians and two foreign nationals developed coronavirus-like symptoms and were placed under home-isolation.

The agency confirmed Friday that the test results came back negative and restrictions were lifted, as per protocol.

Paradise Island Resort is managed by Villa Hotels, a subsidiary of the Villa Group conglomerate. The Group recently closed down all of its resorts except Paradise, due to the sharp decline in tourist arrivals over the COVID-19 pandemic.

HPA is also monitoring Cheval Blanc Randheli over a suspected virus case.

Meanwhile, monitoring measures were lifted recently from Gili Lankanfushi, Furaveri Island Resort, Anantara Kihavah, and aaaVeee Nature's Paradise after samples taken from suspected cases on the islands came back negative last week.

Maldives currently has 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including a tourist couple on a liveaboard, two cases from Anantara Dhigu, five foreign nationals from Kuredu Island Resort as well as two foreign citizens from Sandies Bathala and Kuramathi Maldives each. No locals have tested positive for the virus as of yet.

The island national announced a state of public health emergency on March 12, under which the government has implemented several measures. This includes travel restrictions to and from resorts, and temporary suspension of tourist check-ins in guesthouses and hotels around the country.

In addition, Maldives has banned entry from China, Italy, Iran, Bangladesh, Spain, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and parts of South Korea, France and Germany.

The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected more than 245,600 and claimed over 10,000 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 88,400 have recovered.

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