Phone line set up to contact patients at Hulhumale' facility

A dedicated phone number for members of the public to contact and inquire about the condition of their relatives and loved ones admitted at the Hulhumale' Medical Facility for COVID-19 has been unveiled. 

The facility in Huhumale' has the highest number of beds in terms of capacity. Many members of the public have expressed concern over not being allowed to visit family and loved ones admitted at the facility due to the risk of the virus. 

The government is enhancing efforts to curb the spread of the virus and has even formed a task force of cabinet members. As part of the enhancement efforts, the Tourism Ministry took the initiative in setting up a dedicated phone number for members of the public to check up on their relatives and loved ones. 

The number is 3022221. 

The HMF facility is specifically for serious cases of COVID-19, including many elderly patients. Up until yesterday, there were 188 patients at the facility. 

Concerns were raised in a press conference held today over the shortage of manpower in the facility. 

Hulhumale' Hospital CEO and HMF head Mariya Saeed said that the facility was short of staff and that current staff were distributed in a manner to attend to those patients who were in most need. 

The HMF has a capacity of 274 beds. Mariya said that there were currently 116 nurses and 34 doctors working at the facility. They are distributed into three shifts.