COVID-19 cases rise to 766 with 22 new cases

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Saturday, announced 22 new cases of COVID-19 infection, increasing total infections to 766.

According to HPA, the 22 new cases are 16 Maldivians, four Bangladeshis, one Indian and one Nepali.

In another new development this Saturday, Addu city confirmed its first COVID-19 infection; a 43-year-old heart patient who was medically evacuated to Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). The infection was caught during COVID-19 screening done on him in accordance with IGMH’s current protocol for all hospitalized patients.

The man who tested positive had worked for the resort chain Anantara, and had travelled back to Addu from Male’ on March 30.

Confirmation of the case has prompted Addu city to go into full lockdown, with health authorities now operating on the assumption of a community spread within the city.

It comes after health authorities recently warned they expected to see a surge in infections within the next two weeks.

At a NEOC press briefing on Thursday, consultant Dr. Sheena Moosa said Maldives was expected to experience its first surge in the end of May with 1,600 cases, straining ICUs.

The latest projections indicate Maldives could experience 77,305 infections, 13,568 hospitalizations, and 5,805 critical cases requiring ICU treatment.