Officials warn not to relax even if positive cases decrease

The Maldives has seen COVID-19 case numbers dwindle for the last three days, however, health experts in the country have warned that this is not an indication to relax.

Speaking in a news conference tonight, National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) medical officer, Dr. Ibrahim Afzal admitted that the number of infected cases reported may have slowed down in the last three days, however, this was not something to be taken as a sign to relax.

After the country recorded 95 cases on April 30, the number of cases recorded since then has been slightly reduced.

Dr. Afzal responded to a question by a journalist at the press conference by saying that there was a chance that numbers could spike up again. This was why the authorities were still conducting surveillance on high-risk and vulnerable categories of the population. Such 23 sites have been identified by the authorities, out of which only seven has been completely analyzed by the authorities.

He added that the surveillance would be extended to the local population as well. Positive cases could originate within that surveillance as well, warned the doctor.

“I would not recommend relaxing at all. Even if the numbers during the last three days have reduced, there is a chance that the numbers could increase in a huge cluster all of a sudden.” Said Dr. Afzal.

The Maldives has so far confirmed 527 cases of the virus with one death recorded. The infected include 183 locals and 344 foreigners. 18 people have also made recoveries after being infected with the virus.