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Lockdown at two Maldivian resorts
View(s):The Maldives, best known for its luxury resorts, has locked down two resort islands after two tourists were found to have symptoms likely to be associated with the coronavirus.
“The two tourists remain on the two islands while tests are underway and the lockdown is a precaution,” said state-owned Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation Managing Director Thoyyib Mohamed.
The tourists of Italian and French nationality were staying at the Kuredu island resort and the Summer island resort. Under the lockdown, no one is allowed to leave or enter the resorts. One victim was discovered with possible coronavirus symptoms on Friday night while the other was discovered yesterday morning.
This came as the government at a meeting presided over by Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Friday night decided to ban from today all passengers from Italy and also passengers who have a 14-day travel history to Italy.
Italy is one of the worst-hit countries in Europe as a result of the virus that has killed more than 3,000 people, mostly in China, and affected nearly 100,000 worldwide.
The Maldives has already banned arrivals from China, its largest tourism source market, while also banning cruise liners. Tourism is the Maldives’ main foreign exchange and employment generator.