COVID patient on ventilator pass away

A COVID-19 patient undergoing treatment on a ventilator in Hulhumale Medical Facility (HMF) has passed away. 

'Sun' has come to know that the deceased was a 73-year-old local male, who was transferred to HMF only seven days ago for further treatment. 

Health Protection Agency confirmed the fatality on Thursday morning and revealed that the deceased passed away at 01:54 am. However, the agency did not provide further details. 

This marks the eighth COVID-19 related fatality in January alone. The total number of fatalities in the country is now at 273 with this death.

HPA stated that currently, 57 patients with COVID-19 are undergoing treatment at hospitals. 

Maldives is battling a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases, fueled by the new Omicron variant. The sample positivity rate in the capital, which stood at three percent at the end of last year, has now risen to 37 percent.

Health experts expect the cases to peak by the end of January or the beginning of February. 

Maldives has 125,590 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,813 on Wednesday. While 108,632 patients have recovered from the virus. 

The country currently has 16,673 active cases.