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Foreigner infected with COVID-19 visited three hospitals: NEOC

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on Tuesday revealed that a Pakistani national who tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday had visited three main hospitals in Male' and Hulhumale' prior to being diagnosed.

The Pakistani national is currently being treated at the special Intensive Care Unit setup in Dharumavantha Hospital in capital Male' to treat COVID-19 patients.

Speaking at Tuesday's NEOC press briefing, spokesperson Mabrook Azeez said the infected person had first sought treatment from ADK Hospital in Male'. Eight people who came in contact with the man at the hospital have been isolated and tested, and their results have been confirmed negative for COVID-19, said Mabrook.

The Pakistani national also visited Tree Top Hospital in Hulhumale' over two occasions, and four people who came in contact with the patient have been isolated, said Mabrook. The results of their COVID-19 tests are pending.

The person then visited the main government hospital, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male', where he was tested for COVID-19. The man has since been admitted at Dharumavantha Hospital, an extension building of IGMH, and is being given oxygen therapy due to low oxygen levels, said HPA.

Authorities have been urging the public not to visit hospitals except in cases of emergency. Any persons who develop fevers and flu symptoms have been instructed to contact HPA.

250 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives thus far.