Authorities have seized the passport of the Kuredu Island Resort's doctor over the decision to allow an Italian tourist with symptoms of COVID-19 to depart from Maldives.
Criminal Court of Maldives issued the order to seize the passport over the allegations, as the doctor failed to report to the authorities the case of the tourist and failed to take preventive and precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The tourist was reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 after he arrived in Italy. He consulted the doctor three times as he developed COVID-19 symptoms.
Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stated the authority is probing into the case as the doctor failed to report the case to the Health Protection Authority (HPA). MPS stated the doctor called HPA and clarified whether the government has changed its policies, further asking whether there was a change to the list of countries where suspected cases may originate from.
The police further stated the tourist consulted the doctor two more times before he departed Maldives on March 1 and he was in stable condition during the three occasions he consulted the doctor. However, the tourist fainted twice at the airport and the captain refused to board him to flight following his condition. He left Maldives the following day after having stayed in Maagiri Hotel in Male' City.
The tourist called the Maldivian authorities and informed that he tested positive for the virus. The resort also sought information about his medical condition after he left Maldives for Italy.