Govt establishes isolation rooms in local shelters

The Maldives government has revealed that isolation facilities have been established in childrens' shelters in the Male' area.

Gender Minister Aishath Mohamed Didi Sunday said two isolation rooms have been established at 'Hiyaa' Childrens' Shelter in Villimale' while three such rooms have been established at 'Fiyavathi' shelter in reclaimed suburb Hulhumale'. Work is currently underway to establish two isolation rooms at the Guraidhoo Home for Special Needs People, and additional emergency facilities are being set up at the centre, said the minister.

204 people are currently housed at the special needs home in Guraidhoo, while 126 people are currently receiving treatment at the facility in Himmafushi. 52 children between the ages of 14 and 18 are at the Hiyaa Childrens' Shelter while 120 children below the age of 12 are at the Fiyavathi Shelter. 19 children below the age of 18 are at the shelters in the atolls, said the minister, adding that the number of isolation rooms being established at the centres depended on the number of people housed at the facilities.

Maldives has 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19 thus far. Out of these, six cases are currently active, while the remaining patients have recovered from the illness. Two active cases are of foreigners who have already departed from the Maldives, and the remaining four are all locals who returned to the archipelago from the United Kingdom.