Over 300,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the Maldives until now.
A COVID-19 case was first identified in the Maldives on March 7. Since then, a large number of tests have been carried out every day. Although only contacts of positive cases were tested during the initial days, authorities later began testing anyone who exhibited any symptoms of the virus. Random sampling was later introduced.
While 293 days have passed since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in the Maldives, 301,481 tests have been conducted to date. Out of these, 13,583 tests came back positive for COVID-19. Since authorities began collecting random samples for testing, 1200 to 1500 tests have been conducted every day. Lately, over 2,000 samples are being tested daily.
A large majority of those who contracted the virus in the Maldives have now recovered. 13,026 recoveries have been recorded which is equivalent to 95.90 percent of positive cases. While 502 cases are active, 36 patients are receiving treatment at hospitals. 48 deaths have been recorded to date.
The most number of COVID-19 tests were processed by main state hospital, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). Over 200,000 tests were processed at IGMH. A large number of tests have also been processed at privately run ADK Hospital and the Police Forensics Lab. Testing is now carried out in five different regions across Maldives, including Tree Top Hospital in the Greater Male’ Region.
Over the past 293 days, the Maldives’ situation worsened the most during August. While over 3,900 cases and twelve deaths were recorded during August alone, strict measures were implemented based on the situation to stop the rapid spread of the virus.
However, the situation began improving in Septermber, and by November, the number of daily cases dropped further. The number of daily cases reported now is mostly below 20. Most of the measures taken have now been relaxed.
