Patients with mild symptoms to be released to self-isolation after 14 days

The decision has been made to release COVID-19 patients who had presented only mild symptoms of the disease to self-isolation at home after they complete 14 days of quarantine at designated facilities.

At a press conference at the National Emergency Operations Center on Thursday afternoon, Dr. Moosa Murad, a physician at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), said that most of the patients who had recovered from COVID-19 were no longer being monitored.

“Of the people who [later] tested negative, the people who are being monitored are the Italian who was treated at the 11th floor of Dharumavantha Hospital after his condition got serious, and his wife. They are now on the 17th floor of Dharumavantha Hospital,” said D. Murad.

He said that all COVID-19 patients were in stable condition, and showed no sign of any other medical complications.

“The patients we identified as mild cases, the people who tested positive; some of them showed only mild symptoms, and some were among those whose samples were taken through contact tracing who tested positive despite showing very mild symptoms. We have decided that they, after they complete 14 days of quarantine, will be released from our charge. Once they are released, they have the option of returning to their resorts,” said Dr. Murad.

13 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either working or vacationing in resorts or safaris. Of the 13 people, five were from Kuredu Island Resort, two from Sandies Bathala, two from Kuramathi Island Resort, two from Anantara Dhigu, and two from Island Safari-1.

Dr. Murad cautioned that the recovery of the eight patients and lack of any new virus cases did not mean the there was no longer any threat.

“We have not decided that the situation may not change. We need to remain vigilant,” he said.

He said health and medical professionals would not cease any of their efforts to combat the virus, and urged the public to adhere to their instructions.