Omadhoo patient sent to Male’ tests positive for coronavirus

A woman from A. Dh. Omadhoo who was medically evacuated to Male’ City on a sea ambulance has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Omadhoo councilor Adnan Abdulla told Sun the woman was transported to Male’ City from the regional hospital located in A. Dh. Mahibadhoo on a sea ambulance on Tuesday night, and that Health Protection Agency (HPA) has informed the council this Wednesday that the woman has tested for the new coronavirus.

A spokesperson from the A. Dh. Regional Hospital who spoke to Sun said that the woman was brought  to Mahibadhoo to refer her to Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and transport her to Male’ City.

The spokesperson said that the hospital has carried out decontamination in accordance with the protocol, and that nurses and other healthcare workers who attended to her were wearing protective suits.

The spokesperson added that the woman suffers from a respiratory condition, and that she was referred to IGMH after her conditioned worsened.

It marks the first coronavirus case to be confirmed from Omadhoo.

Omadhoo councilor Adnan said HPA has yet to provide specific instructions on how to proceed, but that the council has initiated protective measures.

Maldives is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases following the relaxation of the lockdown in the greater Male’ region – the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country – in July.

Following the surge in cases, authorities implemented additional restrictions on Tuesday, including imposing a temporary ban on travel of persons from Male’ to other residential islands, except those who travel to the capital to access essential services such as healthcare.

Wearing masks when out in public in the greater Male’ region and residential islands with confirmed coronavirus cases is now mandatory, and the wearing of masks in all residential islands, including those with no confirmed cases has been declared highly recommended.

Maldives has 4,446 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 153 new cases recorded on Tuesday. 2,693 of the patients have since recovered, while 19 have died from complications.

The country now has 1,719 active cases. 105 of the patients are hospitalized.