COVID-19 patient at Naifaru passes away, death toll rises to 279

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced the death of a COVID-19 patient admitted at Lh. Naifaru Atoll Hospital.

HPA identified the deceased as an 83-year-old Maldivian man.

He passed away on Wednesday, at 1:37pm in the afternoon. His death increases the number of COVID-19 fatalities in the Maldives to 279.

The last COVID-19 death recorded in the Maldives prior to this was yesterday; a 73-year-old Sri Lankan man who was being treated at Hulhumale’ Medical Facility (HMF).

Maldives is currently battling a surge in COVID-19 cases, fueled by the new and more contagious omicron variant. The number of new cases have been above 2,000 per day for over a week.

Within the last 24 hours, HPA announced 2,142 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed cases in Maldives to 143,202.     

Meanwhile, 2,163 additional COVID-19 patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 125,190.    

With the new developments, Maldives now has 17,721 active cases.      

There are 62 patients in hospitals.