HPA confirms ninth COVID-19 case in Male'

Health Protection Agency on early Saturday confirmed that a ninth case (MAV029) tested positive for COVID-19 in capital Male'.

According to the agency, the aforementioned case was a 'direct contact' of case MAV027, who tested positive on Friday. HPA disclosed that case MAV029 was being transferred to an isolation facility.

Although the country recorded positive cases, there was no case of community transmission until April 15.

The first community transmission was (MAV021) a local female with no recent travel history, who presented to the flu clinic in Male after developing symptoms. She was tested positive on April 15.

This was soon followed by a second (MAV022) and third (MAV023) positive case on April 16, which were identified to be 'direct contacts' of the initial case.

Meanwhile, the fourth, fifth and sixth cases (MAV024, MAV025 and MAV026) was tested positive and identified as 'direct contacts' of MAV023.

On April 17, five people have been tested positive for coronavirus, marking the highest number of positive cases recorded in the country within 24hrs.

In response to the first local transmission of the coronavirus, HPA issued a Red alert for Male City and placed the greater Male region under lockdown for 24 hours, beginning 1530 hrs on Wednesday afternoon. The lockdown prohibits all civilians sans those with special permits to leave their residences, as well as a ban on all land and sea transportation within the area. This lockdown has now been extended until May 1.

Furthermore, 22 households spanning across Maldives is placed under lockdown for contact tracing. While the majority of these residences are in Male, there are some in Hulhumale', Vashafaru Haa Alif Atoll, Kaashidhoo Kaafu Atoll, Addu city and Madifushi Thaa Atoll.

Maldives now has 29 confirmed and 13 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 16 recoveries.

The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected over two million people and claimed over 150,810 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 564,210 people have recovered.