An elderly from Manadhoo island who recently sought treatment from state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) said the 80 year old woman presented herself to the hospital with complaints of a severe stomach ache. She displayed no symptoms of the flu, said NEOC.
However, the hospital took her sample and made the decision to test her for COVID-19. Her positive result came back after she returned to the guest house she was staying at following treatment at IGMH. NEOC said special attention is being given to contact tracing in both Male' and her home island Manadhoo. The island has been placed on monitoring status.
When asked why those being tested for COVID-19 are released from the hospital before a conclusive result is received, Dr. Ibrahim Afzal from NEOC said the case of the woman in question was exceptional as she had no symptoms of flu.
23 positive cases of COVID-19 were registered on Friday, including three positive cases from Thakandhoo island. The island is now on monitoring status.
The first case of local transmission was identified in the Maldives on April 15, and the numbers have been rapidly increasing since then. Positive cases have been identified in some residential islands in addition to Male'.
Dr Ibrahim Afzal
