National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) revealed that 109 individuals were identified as having been in contact with the Italian tourist, who had holidayed in Kuredu Island Resort, and later rested positive for COVID-19 after returning to Italy earlier this month.
Speaking at the press conference held regarding the coronavirus outbreak in Maldives, the Communications Undersecretary at the President's Office Mabrook Abdul Azeez stated that the 109 individuals, who were identified via contact tracing, have been placed under various states of isolation. However, none of them displayed any symptoms of the virus.
Noting that it has been 14 days since the issue of the infected tourist was logged, Mabrook declared that there has not been any other complications from that case.
He added that the 15 staff members at Maagiri Hotel that came into contact with the Italian national will be released from isolation and quarantine. The tourist had stayed at the luxury hotel in capital Male' from March 1-2 before departing to Italy.
The first coronavirus case related to Maldives, the Italian national had informed Maldivian authorities of his condition after he tested positive for COVID-19 upon returning to Italy. Soon afterwards, two foreign nationals employed at Kuredu tested positive for the virus, and authorities later identified 173 individuals that had been in contact with them.
Presently, five foreign nationals from Kuredu have tested positive.
Following the outbreak, the police launched a criminal investigation, on the directive of Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, to determine any possible negligence concerning the movement of the infected Italian tourist. Police spokesperson has stated that adequate safety measures were not implemented in time due to the actions of individuals who were aware, but failed to inform authorities that the Italian tourist exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 while he was in Maldives.
Currently there are 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maldives, including a tourist couple on a liveaboard, two cases from Anantara Dhigu, and two foreign citizens from Sandies Bathala and Kuramathi Maldives each, in addition to the five from Kuredu. The patients include nine Italians, a Turk, a German, a South African and an English national.
No locals have tested positive for the virus as of yet.
Maldives announced a state of public health emergency last Thursday, under which the government has implemented several measures. This includes travel restrictions to and from resorts and banning guesthouses and hotels in the Greater Male' region from accepting more tourist bookings for a period of 14 days.
Maldives also banned entry from Spain and parts of Germany and France, in addition to China, Italy, Iran, Bangladesh and four regions of South Korea.