Eighth case of Covid-19 in Male' City confirmed

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed that another case of Covid-19 from Male' City has been tested positive.

The news means that eight cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the capital, which is currently undergoing a 14-day period of lockdown. 

On its official Twitter account, HPA announced that the eighth individual (Patient 28) positive for the virus is being moved to an isolation facility. The agency did not specify whether the individual was in contact with any other cases tested positive from Male' City. 

A total of five cases have been confirmed in Male' City in the last 24-hours with three other cases confirmed on Wednesday. 

The government is conducting vigorous testing and contact tracing following the confirmed cases. Authorities are still working to determine exactly how Patient 21 (the first case of the virus in the capital) was infected with the virus. It has still not been confirmed who “Patient 0” or the index case in Male’ City is.

The government also announced that the lockdown on Male' would be extended for all other islands across the country until further notice and banned travels between islands from 18:00 today. Essential travel and supplies are to be arranged under the instructions of island councils.

The lockdown in Male’ City means the public will be barred from going outdoors. Public transport has been halted and the movement of people to and from the city has also been suspended. Flights have also been halted at the Velana International Airport and domestic air travel has been suspended.

There have been some issues faced in obtaining basic necessities from shops by residents of Male’ City, for which a special government committee has now been formed to resolve.