Twenty two individuals who were quarantined at Villivaru Quarantine Facility have been shifted to Holiday Island Resort following the fire incident in Villivaru.
The focal point at Villivaru Ali Hashim said all but three individuals in the facility have now been shifted to Holiday Island following the fire incident yesterday. He said there are no plans to bring them back to Villivaru, adding the facility will be thoroughly disinfected before any additional people are brought to the facility.
The fire broke out in the area which was allocated in Phase 2 of the island to develop a new quarantine facility. The fire was put out by the fire and rescue team of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) late last night. No injuries were reported following the fire.
Following the fire, the government has decided not to develop the new quarantine facility in Phase Two of Villivaru. Focal point Ali Hashim revealed the decision was made by the government in order to reduce expenditure, considering a large number of resorts have been made available for the development of quarantine facilities.
Villivaru was one of the first quarantine facilities developed in the Maldives following the outbreak of COVID-19. The facility has the capacity to accommodate 30 people and was developed with consideration for possible addition of wards and tents. The facility also has a beach area to be used by quarantined individuals.