Maldives' COVID-19 tally reaches 835

The number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives has reached 835.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) said 45 people tested positive for the virus on Sunday. According to HPA, this includes 22 Bangladeshi nationals, two Nepalese one Indian nationals and 20 Maldivian nationals. Out of the total 835 positive cases, 572 foreigners and 280 are Maldivians.

Until last night, 719 were kept in isolation at designated facilities while an additional 1521 were housed at quarantine facilities.

Since April 15, a large number of people have been testing positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives, especially in the capital Male’ region. However, compared to last week, the number of people testing positive this week has declined. The most numbers people tested positive for the virus this week on Friday, with 96 new infections. A record number of 191 people had tested positive for the virus in a single day during the previous week. Health experts have warned that the number of positive cases will further accelerate in the upcoming two weeks. The daily figure is estimated to top 1500 on the peak day.

Three deaths linked to COVID-19 have been recorded in the Maldives – two locals and a Bangladeshi national. The first COVID-19 related death was an 83-year-old woman; the second was a 33-year-old Bangladeshi man. The third death occurred last Thursday night while the patient being treated on a ventilator at the government's main hospital IGMH's extension building, Dharumavantha Hospital ICU. The DH11 intensive care unit (ICU) in the hospital has been specially designated for COVID-19 patients.