Alifushi confirms COVID cases, four days after Presidential Cup

R. Alifushi has confirmed seven new cases of COVID-19. 

Alifushi Health Center said the cases were people who got tested after presenting with flu symptoms. 

Alifushi Council’s president Adam Imran told Sun on Thursday that he was unaware of a community spread of COVID-19 in Alifushi, and that the health center was investigating the cases. 

The cases in Alifushi come four days after the island hosted the final of the Presidential Cup football tournament. The match between Valencia and Maziya attracted a large number of visitors from Male’, including Vice President Faisal Naseem and Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof. 

Maldives is currently battling a surge in COVID-19 cases, fueled by the new and more contagious omicron variant. Health experts expect the cases to peak by the end of January or beginning of February.  

Maldives has 125,590 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,813 new cases recorded on Wednesday. 108,632 patients have since recovered, while 273 have died from complications.   

The country currently has 16,673 active cases. 57 of the patients are hospitalized.