Privately-run ADK Hospital in capital Male' has confirmed that 12 of their employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
Speaking to AVAS on Sunday, ADK's Managing Director Ahmed Af'aal said 12 of their expatriate workers living in ADK's Hulhumale' accommodation tested positive for the virus. All are support staff and are not involved in treating patients, said Af'aal.
The infections are believed to be a compromise of the Hulhumale' accommodation block from contact between them and other expatriate groups in Hulhumale. All 47 workers living in the same accommodation have been quarantined. Workplace contacts are expected to be mainly moderate risk and low risk.
ADK Hospital adopted several protocols to ensure the safety of its customers and employees when the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Maldives. In this regard, all nurses and doctors who treat patients wear full PPE kits when approaching patients, said Af'aal. A special protocol is in place in case any symptoms of the infection are identified among staff, said Af'aal.
Af'aal said the staff accommodation block was immediately quarantined as soon as the potentially infected persons were identified. The Health Protection Agency was duly notified, and samples were taken for testing, which came back positive, said the MD.
Changes to the hospital's internal policies were strengthened when COVID-19 first became a threat. The precautionary measures in place had helped to avoid an outbreak within the hospital.
A doctor and a nurse at the government's main hospital IGMH recently tested positive for COVID-19. However, it is believed that they contracted the virus from within the community and not from their workplace. 16 nurses linked to the case have been placed in isolation.
