Kelaa, Maldives – An individual in Kelaa – an island far up north of Maldives – has tested positive for Covid-19.
The individual is said to be a local male of middle age, who works at a boat which travels between Male’ and Kelaa, and had returned to the island just a week prior to testing positive for the coronavirus. However, local media sources have reported that the man was on the boat before becoming symptomatic.
His first sample results came back negative, but tested positive upon being administered a second test.
Kelaa Council Vice President Aminath Ismail speaking to local media source “Sun” said that they were informed of the individual’s test results last night.
Since then, all seven people on board the vessel have been kept in isolation, and officials have begun efforts to conduct contact tracing. However, it is known that the individual who tested positive for the virus did not have many contacts.
In recent days, the number of Covid-19 cases outside of Male’ have been increasing as authorities have been easing down on the restrictions placed on inter-island travel. Yesterday, two individuals who traveled to R. Inguraidhoo also tested positive for the virus.
The Maldives has so far confirmed 3,369 cases of the virus along with 2,547 recoveries.
