The people of Gaafu Alifu Vilingili has begun a protest refusing to let a person tested positive for COVID-19 being transferred from Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo to the COVID facility in Vilingili.

Maldives Police Service said that officers have been mobilized after a protest set off against a COVID-19 patient being transferred from Thinadhoo to the Vilingili COVID facility was refused to get on the island.

Regarding the situation, Member of the Vilingili Island Council, Habeeb Hassan told One Online that the transfer was decided after a discussion among the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Health Ministry, the Atoll Hospital and the Public Health Unit on the island.

However, with the person who tested positive being a high-risk patient, Councilman Habeeb said that the patient is still on the Sea Ambulance as there are people gathered at the harbor area.

Habeeb said that there protesters are not many but their concerns are about bringing in COVID-19 patient and the island not having the capabilities for the testing.

The Councilman said that the police officers on the island are working to control the protest and a harbor patrol vessel of the MNDF Coast Guard has arrived at the island as well.