The Kooddoo Fisheries Complex has resumed its fish purchasing operations after a halt of 48 days.
The facility operated by Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO) in Kooddoo, Gaafu Alifu Atoll had suspended its fish purchasing operations due to an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the island. While Kooddoo was placed under monitoring due to COVID-19, a collector vessel was activated in the Kooddoo harbour to collect and purchase the catch from fishing vessels.
Kooddoo was placed under monitoring by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on June 20. Kooddoo was removed from monitoring on August 5, after all random samples taken from the island tested negative for COVID-19.
However, HPA has instructed the staff of Kooddoo Airport to retake samples 7 days after their first random sample. HPA stated the new round of random sampling must also include at least 10% of staff who had not previously taken a random sample for testing.
A total of 193 people had tested positive for COVID-19 in Kooddoo. This includes 163 cases from the Kooddoo Fisheries Complex.