COVID-19: 3 new positive cases include Pakistani national

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has just announced that 3 new cases of COVID-19 have been tested.

On its official Twitter account, HPA stated that the three new cases tested positive today included a Pakistani national. This is the first time a Pakistani national has tested positive for the virus. The two remaining cases tested positive are both Maldivians.

The individuals are to be moved to an isolation facility by the authorities.

The announcement means that the Maldives has now confirmed 191 cases of the virus. It also means that a massive 50 cases have been confirmed in the country in the last 12 hours alone.

✳️ #COVID19 Latest Update:

An additional 3 cases (MAV0189 to MAV0191) of 1 Pakistani and 2 Maldivians have been confirmed.

The individuals will be moved to an Isolation Facility. #StayHome #StaySafe

— Health Protection Agency (@HPA_MV) April 26, 2020

A short while ago, HPA announced that 11 more cases had been tested positive. The agency also confirmed late last night that 36 individuals had tested positive for the virus and along with the three new cases confirmed just now, the total number of cases confirmed in the country in the last 12 hours stands at 50.

The first case of a community spread in the Maldives was identified in the capital Male’ City on April 15, prompting authorities to impose a lockdown and curfew on the Greater Male’ Region, including Hulhumale' and Vilimale'. The lockdown was later extended to cover the entire nation. People who traveled to outer lying islands from the capital have also been instructed to practice 14 days of self-isolation at home by the authorities.