COVID-19: HPA confirms 10 additional cases

Health Protection Agency confirmed on late Monday, that a further 10 individuals were found positive for COVID-19 in Male', amid the global pandemic.

According to a tweet made by the agency, the new cases (MAV0542 to MAV0551) include 5 locals are 5 foreign nationals, from Bangladesh.

Of the locals, one is identified as being female, while the rest, including foreigners, are male. Ages are available for only six, but of those known, the individual's ages range between 26 - 51.

Although HPA's dashboard reveals that the transmission is presumed to originate from the cluster of cases, none of the patients above has attributed to a specific cluster.

All of the newly confirmed patients are currently in stable condition.

With this development, Maldives now records 551 confirmed, 531 active cases of COVID-19 and a total of 17 recoveries. The country recorded its first virus death, of an 83-year-old local female, on April 29.

Following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15, Malé has recorded a significant increase in COVID-19 cases. The city is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

The disease has also disproportionately affected the country's large expatriate population, the majority of whom are Bangladeshi nationals and live in highly congested quarters where it is impossible to reduce contact or exercise social distancing.

In addition to the capital, COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Uligan in Haa Alif Atoll, Narudhoo and Milandhoo in Shaviyani Atoll, and Thulusdhoo in Kaafu Atoll.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 3.6 million people and claimed over 252,400 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, 1.2 million people have recovered.