Bangladeshi airline transports equipment for COVID Village

Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier of Bangladesh, has airlifted equipment needed to finish the COVID Village, a hospital under development in suburban Hulhumale’ which will be used to treat coronavirus patients.

The COVID Village, located in front of the Tree Top Hospital, will have 300 intensive care unit beds and will be used in the event Maldives faces a surge in coronavirus patients who require advanced medical care.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight arrived at Velana International Airport (VIA) carrying the equipment on early Saturday. The flight also carried a shipment of medical supplies.

BIMAN Airlines has arrived with much needed Equipment to finish the Hospital being developed in Hulhumale COVID Village Hospital along with some medical supplies. We thank all Stellar Aviation, BIMAN Airlines and all Governmental agencies assisting us in this operation. pic.twitter.com/qUbsPJnAMZ

— Maldivian (@MaldivianAero) May 15, 2020

National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has announced the COVID Village is being developed at the cost of MVR 40 million; MVR 12 million of which is being spent on construction, and MVR 28 million of which is being spent on procuring the medical equipment and supplies which will be needed for the hospital.

The COVID Village was previously scheduled to be complete by end of April, but is now scheduled to be complete by end of May. The delay had been due to a number of people involved in the project testing positive for the virus.

 Maldives surpassed the 1,000-mark to reach 1,031 infections over the weekend. It has also announced 49 recoveries and four deaths.