Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Tuesday, revealed that two additional samples had tested positive for COVID-19 in the capital city Male', bringing the number of cases in the city to 49.
According to HPA, a Bangladeshi expatriate and a Maldivian had confirmed infections of the virus.
Additional 2 cases (MAV068, MAV069) one Bangladesh and one Maldivian national have been confirmed.
— Health Protection Agency (@HPA_MV) April 20, 2020
This totals the number of confirmed cases in Male’ City to 49.
All individuals will be transferred to an Isolation Facility.
We are establishing any links with current cases.
On Monday alone, prior to the new developments, Maldives confirmed 15 positive cases of COVID-19.
Authorities also urged any individuals that visited the shops Lily Store, and Ihsaan Fihaara located in Maafannu ward of capital Male', from April 13-15 and April 15-17 respectively, to report to HPA at the earliest.
Maldives' first confirmed case of COVID-19 from the capital city of Male', was recorded on April 15, involving a local woman who presented to the flu clinic in Malé after developing coronavirus-like symptoms. However, the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC)'s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Monday, predicted that community spread of the virus began two to three weeks ago.
At present, the country has not identified an index patient for the outbreak.
As of now, Maldives records 69 confirmed and 53 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 16 recoveries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected over 2.4 million people and claimed over 169,338 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 644,589 people have recovered.
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