Local tested positive for Covid-19 recovers

The government of Maldives has announced that a local who tested positive for the Covid-19 has recovered.

In a press conference underway right now, National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) medical officer and IGMH doctor, Moosa Muraad said that the individual that recovered was one of the first locals to be tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Muraad said that the individual had tested double negative for the virus.

“One of the first Maldivians tested positive for the is now negative, two samples of the individual have now tested negative and we have decided that the individual had made a full recovery,” said Dr. Muraad.

While five locals have so far tested positive for the virus, four of them have returned from the UK. One local that returned from the Philippines had tested positive for the virus today. The individual that recovered is one of the four that returned from the UK.

The Maldives has now confirmed 20 cases of the pandemic virus along with the positive case today. The country confirmed its first case on March 7. Out of the 20 confirmed, 15 are foreigners. 13 of these foreigners have since made full recoveries from the virus.

Two foreign tourists who tested positive for the virus departed from the country upon completing their quarantine periods. The test results of the two tourists were only received after they had departed.

Currently, only four local cases are being treated for the virus.

The Maldives is in state of public health emergency after the government made a declaration on March 12 which will expire on April 30. The government offices in the country have been closed for nearly a month.

Schools, colleges and universities have also been closed as well as cafés and restaurants as the government urges people to remain indoors during this time and practice social distancing. The country has also stopped issuing on-arrival visas and begun repatriation flights to return locals stuck abroad.