COVID-19: Maldives records 2 more recoveries

Authorities announced Tuesday that two more COVID-19 patients have recovered in Maldives, bringing the total number of recoveries to five.

Speaking at the press conference held by National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), Dr Mohamed Ismail of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) stated that the two recovered patients have been discharged.

The recovered patients tested negative twice upon being tested after their mandatory 14-day isolation period and treatment. With this development, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maldives stands at 13, with eight active cases still being treated.

However, Dr Ismail declared that the national situation remains unchanged and cautioned the public to remain vigilant, and practise isolation and social distancing in order to break the chain of virus spreading. He further urged everyone, particularly those with travel history, to make note of places visited and people met should they exhibit COVID-19 like symptoms or test positive, in order to facilitate easier contact tracing.

Shedding further light on the situation in Maldives, Mabrouq Abdul Azeez, the Communications Undersecretary at the President's Office, noted that 637 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in Maldives so far, out of which 660 tested negative.

Meanwhile, total 496 individuals are currently under quarantine and 19 in isolation over suspected infection. They include 19 in Velidhoo Island Resort and three in Dharumavantha Hospital. Of the three in Dharumavantha, two are recovered patients undergoing further monitoring. The isolation facility in Farukolhufushi has been vacated for repairs.

Mabrouq further noted that NEOC is currently seeking volunteers. Interested participants can access the special application form at https://covid19.health.gov.mv/en/

He also hailed all medical staff and frontline workers across the country for their efforts in preventing and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maldives now has 13 confirmed and eight active cases of COVID-19. The country recorded its first two recoveries on March 20, and the third on March 21. No Maldivians have tested positive for the virus as of yet. So far, only tourists and resort employees have confirmed infections with no local transmissions.

The World Health Organization has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus has infected more than 345,200 and claimed over 14,900 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 99,500 have recovered.