Health Protection Agency (HPA) has requested anyone that came into contact with Patient 21 to report themselves to the authorities as a safety measure against the spread of the virus. HPA requested the public to contact 1676 if they had come into contact with Patient 21.
Patient 21, is the first case of Covid-19 confirmed in the capital Male’ City. Two other cases connected with Patient 21 were later confirmed in the capital. One of the cases, Patient 22, was later confirmed by the authorities as to the child of Patient 21.
HPA stated that information can be shared via [email protected] as well.
In a news conference today, National Emergency Operations Center and government spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez stated that Patient 21 had exhibited symptoms of the virus from April 10. He added that the symptoms from the most recently confirmed case in the capital were identified on April 8. Contact tracing was very much focused on identifying the individuals contacted since April 6. However, information about others in contact with the cases during the last 14 days will also be collected.
A total of 305 people has been isolated following contact with Patient 21 and Patient 23 (the most recent case in the capital). 157 individuals in the High-Risk and Medium-Risk categories have been quarantined. They include 82 in High-Risk and 71 in the Medium-Risk category. 89 individuals determined as Low-Risk have been asked to home isolate.
Mabrouq noted that the number of contacts had been higher than the expectations of such a case due to ill-advised activities during the situation such as parties and fishing trips. The government has repeatedly urged the public to remain indoors.
A lockdown was imposed in Male’ City at 15:30 yesterday, for 24 hours. The order was later extended and is set to expire at 15:30 tomorrow.
The Maldives has so far confirmed 23, cases of the virus. Thirteen foreigners, as well as three locals, have made full recoveries from the virus.