COVID-19: Cases rise above 800, with 45 new cases

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced that 45 additional cases of COVID-19 have been tested positive in the Maldives, taking the national toll well above the 800 case mark.

The confirmed cases today include 22 Bangladeshi, 20 Maldivian, 2 Nepali, and 1 Indian national. HPA did not specify whether all or some of the individuals tested positive for the virus from vulnerable households. 

The additional cases mean that the total number of cases in the country has increased to 835.

Since the Maldives confirmed its first case of the virus, 64 days have passed. The number of cases in the country began to increase at a rapid rate a case was discovered in the capital Male' City. The city is home to the majority of the country's population. 

✳️ COVID-19 Case Updates

As of 05:00pm, confirmed an additional 45 cases of COVID-19 infection in Maldives.

Cases:
- 22 Bangladeshis
- 20 Maldivians
- 01 Indian
- 02 Nepalese

Total number of cases: 835

— Health Protection Agency (@HPA_MV) May 10, 2020

The virus has particularly hit the migrant worker community in the city with the overwhelming majority of the confirmed cases being migrant workers. More than 500 foreigners have tested positive for the virus, while more than 250 locals have also tested positive.

The country has recorded three deaths from the virus so far. It has also recorded 29 recoveries from the virus.

Health officials in the country have previously warned that the country could see its total tally at 77,000 cases with 900 deaths. Officials have projected that the country could reach a possible peak of cases on May 31. The day could single-handedly deliver 1500 cases. It could also pose a risk that the ICU units in the country could be overloaded.