The Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has warned that a new variant of the COVID-19 virus may emerge in the Maldives.
In a press conference held on Monday, HEOC said while the number of positive cases keep increasing, the number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 has tripled over the past few days. While 160 patients are admitted at Hulhumale' Medical Facility alone, the ICU center established at main government hospital, Dharumavantha Hospital has reached 50 percent capacity, said HEOC. The number of people developing severe symptoms are also increasing, said HEOC.
While new variant of the virus are emerging in different parts of the world, it is likely that such a variant may emerge in the Maldives, said HEOC. Infections due to some variants are not picked up by PCR tests, and these cases are detected much later when the person's health deteriorates significantly, they added. All indications point to the fact that the country's situation continues to worsen, said HEOC, further warning that the Maldives' situation could reach the same level as that in India and Nepal.
The Maldives on Monday recorded 585 new COVID-19 cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, a new single-day record. 397 cases were recorded in capital Male' and160 cases were recorded in the atolls. 26 cases were recorded in local resorts and industrial islands. This brings the country's tally to 31,330. While 6,033 cases are currently active, the Maldives has recorded 74 COVID-19 deaths to date.
