Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC)'s Spokesperson and Health Protection Agency (HPA)'s Medical Officer Dr Nazla Rafeeq stated that the number of cases spiked on Sunday because COVID-19 clusters were identified in a developing resort that is currently under construction, as well as Velana International Airport (VIA)'s Cargo Department.
Speaking at HEOC's media briefing held on Sunday night, Dr Nazla revealed that contact tracing was currently underway, after 24 workers tested positive from the 249 samples collected from Rahfaruhuraa -- a resort employing over 2,000 individuals that travel from four different islands for work.
She further noted that HEOC is testing workers at resorts under construction as well as operational resorts, under the active surveillance efforts carried out by the centre.
In addition to the cluster in Rahfaruhuraa, Dr Nazla confirmed that 22 virus cases were identified from the Velana International Airport's Cargo Department. The first COVID-19 case recorded from the department was identified on November 5, after which five more individuals tested positive on Thursday, followed by six cases on Friday, seven cases on Saturday and three cases on Sunday.
According to Dr Nazla, 136 samples were collected regarding the cluster, and 27 individuals were isolated.
Moreover, she added that the number of positive cases identified from flu clinics were on the rise, reiterating the authorities' request for the general public to adhere to HPA guidelines, maintain social distancing, wear masks and take necessary precautions.
Maldives currently records a total of 12,204 virus cases of which 865 are active cases, in addition to 11,289 recoveries and 43 deaths.
During August, authorities tightened the safety measures implemented in the Greater Male' region, following an alarming upsurge of COVID-19 cases after the state initiated efforts to steer the country towards a 'new normal' with the phased easing of lockdown restrictions.
After a long period of recording over 100 daily cases, the numbers fell to two-digits during the most part of September. Throughout October the numbers had slipped further down below 50, with a few spikes on rare occasions.
Within this same period, the number of recoveries saw a significant increase, bringing the number of recovered cases to over 90 percent.
Despite the sustained decrease in virus cases, HPA has renewed calls for citizens to adhere to protective measures to contain the spread of the virus, cautioning against a public sentiment that the outbreak has been “controlled”.
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 54.8 million people and claimed over 1.3 million lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 38 million people have recovered.
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