Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Gadhdhoo has been placed under monitoring status after a high number of people have tested positive for COVID-19.

Member of Gadhdhoo Island Council, Ali Abdullah told ONE Online today that a number of people who visited the island from Male' and some people in the island has tested positive. And from the samples for which the results have come in, 27 positive cases have been found.

While Gadhdhoo has been placed under monitoring today, it is also the first day of the second term of the academic year.

Councilman Ali Abdullah said that the students were in school today when the island was placed under monitoring and so the school situation will change starting tomorrow.

He said that the school will be closed and a random sample tested yesterday had tested positive as well so the safety measures have to be strengthened.

The COVID-19 situation in the country has gotten worse again with the daily new cases close to 1,000 with more travel restrictions in place.

And so, travelers have been ordered not to travel unless with a negative PCR test. However, there have been rumours that many Island Councils are letting people on the island without checking PCR test results.

As today, at this time, there are 13 islands under monitoring.