Maldives reports first coronavirus cases
The Maldives, a popular tourist destination in the Indian Ocean, reported its first cases of COVID-19 on March 7, 2020. The cases were confirmed by the Maldives Ministry of Health, which stated that two individuals had tested positive for the virus.
The first case was a 52-year-old woman who had recently traveled to Italy, which was one of the countries severely affected by the pandemic at the time. The second case was a 35-year-old man who had also recently traveled to Italy.
The Maldives government immediately took measures to contain the spread of the virus, including:
- Implementing enhanced screening measures at the country's airports and seaports.
- Isolating the two confirmed cases and their close contacts.
- Conducting contact tracing to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
- Increasing the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.
- Providing guidance and support to the tourism industry to ensure the safety of visitors and locals alike.
The Maldives government also suspended all flights from Italy and other high-risk countries, and implemented a 14-day quarantine period for all travelers arriving from these countries.
As the pandemic spread globally, the Maldives government continued to take measures to protect its citizens and visitors, including:
- Implementing a nationwide lockdown in April 2020.
- Restricting travel to and from the country.
- Increasing the availability of COVID-19 testing and treatment facilities.
- Providing financial support to affected individuals and businesses.
Thanks to these efforts, the Maldives was able to contain the spread of the virus and maintain a relatively low number of cases compared to other countries. As of March 2022, the Maldives had reported a total of 134,444 cases of COVID-19, with 134 deaths.