Luxury beach resorts convert into isolation facilities in the Maldives

With international travel at a standstill — and a large chunk of the population projected to contract COVID-19, governments around the world are looking to otherwise deserted hotels and resorts as makeshift medical shelters, isolation zones for the infected.  Now, the Maldives is following suit, first seen in Wuhan

New Delhi: Pocketed amidst the lush tropical vegetation on a coral atoll in the Indian Ocean, the Velidhu island resort is one of the top tourists stays in the Maldives. However, for the past week, the resort’s maximum properties have been transformed into a medical facility to treat patients showing primary symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection.

The distinct wooden thatched-roof bungalows set on stilts over the emerald green waters, feature lounges with glass floors are one of the most searched properties for vacation, honeymoons, romantic getaways and family holidays.

With international travel coming to a standstill – and a large chunk of the population projected to contract the COVID-19 in the coming months, governments around the world are looking to the deserted hotels, resorts as makeshift medical shelters, isolation zones for the novel coronavirus patients. 

The story of hotel or resort today – hospital tomorrow runs the same for the renowned Hulhulé Island hotel as well. This strategy, picked up by the Maldivian government, was utilized by officials in Wuhan, China, who erected specialized facilities — or in some cases, commandeered hotels — to isolate doctors and nurses. Medical professionals, paramedics, and health workers, of course, are at a higher risk of contracting the illness and subsequently passing it on to their families or fellow commuters.

These two properties are but two of the tourist resorts in the island nation of the Maldives that are now being repurposed for medical support in the battle against the pandemic. Hoteliers and resort owners in the Maldives have offered authorities access to a dozen properties to add over 100 beds for future patients.

A few days ago, the Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih personally inspected the two isolation facilities. According to a press release, President Solih took a tour of an isolation facility being established in Farukolhufushi island as well as the facility being developed near TreeTop Hospital in Hulhumale’.

“Several resorts have been offered to the government to be used as facilities, following the decision to quarantine to incoming passengers to the country except for tourists. These are preparations done to face any situation in the future,” a government official told the News21 on phone. 

He added that, apart from the island resorts and hotels, the government is also working on war-footing to raise a facility to support 150 beds in the Vilivaru region as well.  On 26 March, the government announced the suspension of all visa on arrival from today until further notice. Announcing the decision, President Solih said that the step was taken as a precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

‘With the suspension of issuing on-arrival visas, those arriving from foreign countries will not be allowed to enter the country,’ a press release quoted President Solih. 

The island nation’s economy is heavily dependent on foreign tourists. According to international tourism figures, around 1.4 million tourists from across the world visited the Maldives. Tourism is an important source of revenue for the Maldives—international tourism receipts account for more than 40 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

According to the government the COVID-19 pandemic is set to cost 6 billion rufiyaas [$389 million], coupled with a five percent negative growth in the Maldivian economy.  President Solih hopes that his nation will be open for tourists by the end of April. While acknowledging a dent to the nation’s economy due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, he estimated a year’s time for Maldivian tourism to return to normalcy.

Till 27 March, the Maldives has witnessed a total of 13 positive COVID-19 cases, with eight successful recoveries.