The worsening COVID-19 situation in Maldives may require for a lockdown to be imposed once again, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has warned.
The number of infections have been increasing at an alarming rate for the past few weeks. The tally has crossed the 7000-mark with 140 infections recorded over the past 24 hours and 28 deaths recorded to date. Health experts believe efficient testing could show upto 600 positive cases a day.
Speaking at a press conference held Tuesday night by the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), TAG member Dr. Ahmed Shaheed said COVID-19 has spread to all areas of the capital. While the number of infections have increased significantly over the past week, the situation in the capital is now at ‘level 9’, said the doctor. If the situation continues to worsen and a ‘level 10’ stage is reached, a lockdown is very likely to be imposed, he said.
Although the current situation in the capital already calls for a lockdown, the measure will be taken as a last resort due to the difficulties and challenges that it accompanoes, said Dr. Shaheed. Therefore, it is of untmost importance for the public to step up on personal responsiltiies in slowing the spread of the disease, he added.
Public Health Specialist Dr. Sheena Moosa previously warned that the Maldives’ situation due to COVID-19 is very grave. In an interview given to local channel, RaajjeTV on Sunday, Dr. Sheena said the number of positive cases has increased drastically and that the number of people who require hospitalisation has also increased significantly. 62% percent of hospital beds in the Greater Male’ Area are already occupied, and this percentage is a cause for concern, said the doctor. Although the number of fatalities recorded in the Maldives are comparatively less, the large number of people being treated in ICU could increase the toll in the coming days, she warned.
“In other countries, a large number of people passed away because the healthcare system was overburdened and could not cater to them. The numbers kept rising at such a fast pace that no beds were available for incoming patients, no doctors and nurses were available to cater to them,”
Noting that the Maldives is approaching that point, Dr. Sheena said the country does not have enough doctors and nurses to cater to the rising number of patients.
