COVID-19: 11 more cases confirmed, total rises to 1031

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed that 11 more individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives.

In a tweet sent out from the official account of the HPA, the agency confirmed that eight Maldivians and three Bangladeshi nationals had tested positive for the virus late tonight.

Within the last 24 hours, virus cases have popped up in K. Hinmafushi and N. Manadhoo as well. From Manadhoo, nine cases were confirmed in connection with an elderly virus patient. the patient had tested positive after being transported to Male' City for abdominal pains before she tested positive for the virus.

From Hinmafushi, three individuals from the Drug Rehabilitation Center also tested positive for the virus today. Both islands are in a state of lockdown following the confirmed cases. 

Other than Male' City, virus cases have been confirmed in:

• H. A. Uligan
• H. A. Thakandhoo
• Sh. Narudhoo
• Sh. Milandhoo
• N. Manadhoo
• K. Hinmafushi
• K. Thulusdhoo

A man who serves as the Imaam of a mosque in Male’ City also tested positive after samples were randomly collected. A patient who visited the IGMH hospital for dialysis treatment also tested positive today.

The Maldives has so far confirmed a total of 1031 cases. Four people have also passed away due to the virus. The number of recoveries currently stands at 49, with three people announced earlier tonight.

Authorities have previously warned that the virus may become a seasonal one based on data from similar diseases. They have also stated that a large number of virus patients in the Maldives were asymptomatic.

The Maldives first confirmed a case of the virus on March 7 when an Italian tourist tested positive for the virus. A community case of the virus was first confirmed in Male' City on April 15. The capital was closed off since then and the city, as well as its massive population, are in a state of lockdown and curfew.

The country passed the 1000 cases mark for the virus today. The majority of the cases have been identified in the capital. Most of the cases in the capital had originated among the large migrant worker community.

The Maldives is expected to observe a surge in the number of cases by the end of this month. Experts have since then reduced the initial projections due to the effectiveness of lockdown measures, and are now expecting a smaller surge.

Compared with the end of April and beginning of May, the number of confirmed cases has reduced significantly. The highest number of cases confirmed in a single day was recorded on April 30, with 191 cases. The second-highest number of cases were identified on May 8. Case numbers have averaged around 25-50 per day since then.

However, authorities have stressed that this was not a factor to become relaxed about and have urged the public to maintain strict safety protocols.

Speaking in a televised interview of PSM, the Director-General of Public Health Maimoonaa Aboobakuru stated that the government was well prepared for the situation to be faced. She also thanked the cooperation received from the citizens to the measures imposed in the country to curb the virus. 

Projections made for the country currently show that it could see 77,000 cases in total. The number of deaths could be as high as 900.