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64 healthcare workers, 67 police officers test positive for COVID-19: HEOC

Shahudha Mohamed
02 August 2020, MVT 09:51
Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC)’s Spokesperson and Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s Medical Officer Dr Nazla Rafeeq speaking at one of HEOC’s press conferences. PHOTO: HEOC
Shahudha Mohamed
02 August 2020, MVT 09:51

Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), on Saturday night, revealed that a total of 64 healthcare workers and 67 police officers tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives till date.

Speaking at a press briefing held by HEOC, the centre’s Spokesperson and Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s Medical Officer Dr Nazla Rafeeq stated that 37 of the 64 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, lab technicians, radiographers and cleaners, tested positive for the virus in July.

Local media Mihaaru reported that a group of doctors employed at the COVID-19 treatment facility at reclaimed suburb Hulhumalé were amongst those who had recently contracted the virus.

According to Dr Nazla, 21 police officers tested positive for COVID-19 in July, while six additional officers were found positive for the virus on the first day of August.

HPA confirmed a total of 154 new virus cases on Saturday, of which 134 were Maldivians — marking the highest number of locals to test positive for COVID-19 in a single day.

After recording low numbers for several weeks during the month of June, virus cases have now spiked, reducing the total amount of recovered patients from the peak 86 to 66 percent.

The number of COVID-19 cases increased 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.

Currently, Maldives records 3,949 confirmed COVID-19 cases of which 1,304 are active cases, along with 2,613 recoveries and 17 deaths.

In addition to the Greater Male' region, active virus cases are also present in Kelaa and Ihavandhoo of Haa Alif Atoll, Eydhafushi, Kamadhoo, Hithaadhoo and Seaside Finolhu resort of Baa Atoll, Kurendhoo and Hinnavaru of Lhaviyani Atoll, Maafushi of Kaafu Atoll and Fulidhoo of Vaavu Atoll.

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Maldives' capital Malé continue to record a significant number of COVID-19 cases, similar to the first weeks following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15.

On March 12, WHO classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. To date, the new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 18 million people and claimed over 688,700 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 11.3 million people have recovered.

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