Elderly virus patient in ‘serious condition’

National Emergency Operations Center, on Tuesday, announced that the condition of the 80-year-old man in Male’ who tested positive for COVID-19 was serious.

At the NEOC press briefing this afternoon, IGMH doctor, Dr. Moosa Hussain said the patient had suffered a stroke, due to which he had been bedridden for two years, and had other preexisting medical conditions.

“The day we have all [been dreading] has come. An 80-year-old male is currently hospitalized in DH11. The patient had been bedridden for two years due to a stroke,” said Dr. Moosa.

Dr. Moosa said the patient also had other preexisting medical conditions including diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

He had also been hospitalized on multiple occasions for aspiration pneumonia.

“Given that he is 80 years of age, and given that he already has multiple preexisting conditions, we expect that his condition may deteriorate drastically upon becoming infected with such a disease,” said Dr. Moosa.

He said the patient’s oxygen saturation level had been at 94 percent when he was transferred to the wing established on the 11^th floor of Dharumavantha Hospital to treat high-risk virus patients this afternoon, and that the normal oxygen saturation level for a person of his age is 98 percent.

“We are saying that even 94 is a warning sign that his condition will deteriorate drastically,” said Dr. Moosa.

He warned that such an elderly person testing positive indicated that the virus had spread within his home, and urged for members of the general public to pay particular attention to elderly people under their care.

“Some symptoms are warning signs; such as fever and shortness of breath. Seek help from HPA if any of these signs present themselves,” said Dr. Moosa.

He also advised caretakers of elderly people who show symptoms to take precautionary measures such as using a face mask and washing hands.

Total 83 have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives.