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COVID-19: 13 test positive at 'Fiyavathi' Orphanage

Ahmed Aiham
08 October 2020, MVT 11:17
Children at the state orphanage 'Fiyavathi' in reclaimed suburb Hulhumale'. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF GENDER, FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Ahmed Aiham
08 October 2020, MVT 11:17

Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) on Wednesday, disclosed that five employees and eight children housed under 'Fiyavathi', the state-run orphanage centre at reclaimed suburb Hulhumale', was found positive for COVID-19.

Speaking at the press briefing held by the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), HPA's Senior Medical Officer and HEOC's Spokesperson Dr Nazla Rafeeq stated that the positive cases were identified through the contact tracing process carried out for a member of staff that tested positive on September 30.

Following the announcement, Ministry of Family, Gender and Social Services, announced that efforts are underway to decongest the orphanage, noting that 26 children will be transferred to a separate facility.

Further, Gender Ministry revealed that one of the eight children was a high-risk patient and was subsequently transferred to the Hulhumale' Medical Facility.

Earlier in July, a total of 32 individuals were quarantined inside the orphanage after an employee tested positive, with HEOC noting that 21 out of the 32 quarantined individuals are children aged between six to 11, while the rest were employees.

Maldives currently records a total of 10,656 virus cases of which 1,068 are active cases, in addition to 9,547 recoveries and 34 deaths.

During last month, 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 have fallen to two-digits during the most part of September. Within this same period, the number of recoveries saw a significant increase, bringing the number of recovered cases to 89.5 percent.

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