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Former president Maumoon tests positive for COVID-19

Ahmed Aiham
26 August 2020, MVT 08:29
Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom With incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The 81-year-old former president announced that his test for COVID-19 came back positive on late Tuesday. PHOTO: MIHAARU
Ahmed Aiham
26 August 2020, MVT 08:29

Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, on late Tuesday, tested positive for COVID-19, as announced on twitter.

According to a relative of the 82-year-old former president, Maumoon began exhibiting symptoms such as a high fever on Monday, and was confirmed to be infected with the virus following tests conducted at Dharumavantha Hospital on Tuesday morning.

His family has revealed that efforts were underway to admit Maumoon at the hospital for treatment.

Maumoon's spouse Nasreena Ibrahim was also tested for the virus earlier in August. However, her results came back negative.

Maldives now records total 7,047 confirmed and 2,580 active COVID-19 cases, along with 4,439 recoveries and 28 deaths.

After recording significantly low numbers in the months of May and June, the island nation recorded a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases per capita, indicating an alarming community spread in the country.

The number of COVID-19 cases skyrocketed after the state initiated efforts to steer the country towards a 'new normal' with the phased easing of lockdown restrictions across the Greater Male' Region. As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Maldives' capital Malé continues to record a significant number of COVID-19 cases, similar to the first weeks following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15.

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