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COVID-19 - More cases added to IGMH cluster

06 July 2020, MVT 20:03
Samples collected by a lab technician at IGMH for COVID19 testing. PHOTO: MIHAARU
06 July 2020, MVT 20:03

The state’s largest medical facility, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), reported an increase in COVID-19 cases that involve persons infected on the premises or through individuals in-contact with carriers traced back to the hospital, following the easing of restrictive measures.

Speaking at the press briefing held by the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), spokesperson Dr Nazla Rafeeq stated that persons recently confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus include four from IGMH; two hospital staff and two patients.

“That comes to a total of six staff, seven patients and two helpers confirmed positive, in connection to this IGMH case”, said the doctor.

Till date, 15 persons linked to the IGMH cluster, have tested positive for COVID-19.

One of the aforementioned helpers was identified as being an employee of 'Fiyavathi', the state-run orphanage centre located in reclaimed suburb Hulhumale’.

According to Nazla, 21 children and 11 staff members are now under quarantine at the orphanage.

IGMH is presently testing samples taken from those who may have been exposed to the virus at the facility, and have now acquired a total of 308 samples. However, as contact tracing is still underway, the sample count is likely to rise.

“Should more cases surface, we will conduct further contact tracing and collect more samples”, assured Dr. Nazla.

At the beginning of the local outbreak, after community-spread was first identified in Male’ City, IGMH’s procedure was to test all persons arriving at the facility. However, according to local news Mihaaru, the circular announcing the easing of initial measures was publicised after a delay in a child’s surgery, over having to wait for COVID-19 test results, that led to having to remove an organ from the young patient.

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