President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said ‘under certain circumstances’ the Maldives could open up to tourists from China, South Korea and Japan as early as April, Sun Online reports.
Those circumstances include there being no known active cases of infection in the Maldives, the president said.
The next day, however, Sun revealed that the government had begun monitoring two resorts, Grand Park Kodhipparu and JA Manafaru for suspected cases of Covid-19.
A third Maldivian was tested positive for Covid-19 upon their return from the UK, raajje.mv reports.
The individual is quarantined at the Royal Island Resort, in line with the government’s decision to quarantine all incoming passengers.
With this latest case, the Maldives has 18 positive cases of Covid-19, with 13 recoveries and five active cases.
March 7 was a dark day for the island destination as it confirmed its first two cases of Covid-19. Employees of Kuredu Island Resort & Spa who had come into contact with an Italian tourist who had tested positive for the virus upon returning home. The hotel was placed under lockdown.
In a recent article, Business Insider revealed what it was like during the lockdown at Kuredu Island Resort. Jessica Galsworthy, a 28-year-old food blogger from the UK said the hotel looked after her and her boyfriend ‘fantastically.’