Coronavirus cases in IGMH outbreak rise to 15

Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) announced on Sunday that the number of coronavirus cases within Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) - connected to a deceased cancer patient who tested positive late last week – has risen to 15.

The patient in question - a 39-year-old Indonesian man who was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of IGMH for four stage four cancer, passed away on Thursday.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday night, HEOC spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said that two more staff members, along with two patients who were discharged following treatment at the hospital, have tested positive for the disease.

The new infections increase total coronavirus cases linked with IGMH to 15; seven patients, six staff members, and two companions of patients.

Dr. Nazla said that contact tracing remains ongoing at the hospital.

“308 samples were taken by Sunday afternoon. We have received the results on some of the samples and are conducting further tests. We are expanding contact tracing and testing as we identify more cases,” she said.

CORONAVIRUS CASE IN FIYAVATHI

The coronavirus cases linked to IGMH includes a staff member of Fivayathi, a state-run children’s shelter in suburban Hulhumale’.

According to Dr. Nazla, the staff member in question is a family member of a patient at IGMH.

“11 staff members and 21 children at Fiyavathi have been quarantined in connection to the case. They are quarantined at Fiyavathi at present, in rooms designated for the purpose,” she said.

Dr. Nazla said the children in quarantine are between the ages of six to 11 years.

33 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed 33 additional cases of the new coronavirus over the past 24 hours; 18 Bangladeshis, 12 Maldivians and three Indians.

The additional cases increase total confirmed coronavirus cases to 2,468, out of whom 2,049 have recovered and 10 have died from complications.

The number of active coronavirus cases stands at 404.