Bangladeshi COVID-19 patient who passed away buried in Hulhumale'

A Bangladeshi COVID-19 patient who passed away today after suffering a tonic-clonic seizure has been buried in Hulhumale’.

The burial processions of the man were conducted by MNDF officers in protective equipment. 

Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) doctors who had treated the patient have stated that it was likely he had died from complications due to a preexisting medical condition unrelated to the COVID-19 infection.

IGMH doctor, Dr. Mohamed Faishan, speaking in a press conference today said he died from a hemorrhagic stroke after a weakened vessel ruptured and bled into his brain.

He said that the bleed was also believed to have been the cause of his tonic-clonic seizure, which was the reason why he had been transferred from Senahiya Hospital to IGMH.

Dr. Faishan said that while COVID-19 was found to sometimes restrict blood flow to the brain, the bleed in the patient’s brain had been due to a ruptured vessel.

While the cause of death has been ruled as a hemorrhagic stroke, his death has been classified as a COVID-19 related death in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

This is the second death related to COVID-19 in the Maldives. The man had been taken to IGMH in critical care after suffering the tonic seizure around 4:30 late last night. Maldives has confirmed 557 cases of COVID-19 so far.