COVID-19: Deceased 83-year-old man brought into IGMH tests positive

An 83-year-old man who was brought into Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) after he passed away has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

In a press conference held by Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) on Thursday night, the center’s spokesperson and epidemiologist Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said the deceased was brought into IGMH in Male’ at approximately 07:00 pm.

Nazla said that the patient was already deceased when brought into the hospital, and was tested for the coronavirus in accordance with current heath protocols.

“The test came back positive. However, we have been informed that he showed no symptoms of the disease prior to being taken to the hospital, and does not have a history of contact [with any other confirmed coronavirus cases],” she said.

Nazla said health authorities were trying to confirm whether the elderly man had died from complications as a direct result of getting infected with the new coronavirus, and whether his death will be counted as a coronavirus-related death.

Maldives has 5,494 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 128 new cases recorded on Thursday. 2,920 patients have since recovered, while 21 have died from complications.

The death of the 83-year-old man this Thursday, if it’s recorded as a coronavirus-related death, will increase fatalities to 22.

Maldives currently has 2,553 active cases. 1,476 patients are in isolation facilities, while 156 are hospitalized.