Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed five more Maldivians have tested positive for COVID-19 from Male' City on April 17.
HPA said 8 positive COVID-19 cases have been identified from Male' City, with the total cases rising to 28 in the Maldives. In total, 16 patients have recovered from COVID-19 in the Maldives with 9 Maldivians currently undergoing treatment. Another 2 foreigners are receiving treatment from abroad after contracting COVID-19 while in the Maldives.
The first case identified in Male’ City, known as MAV021, tested positive for COVID-19 on April 15. The second and third cases, known as MAV022 and MAV023, tested positive for COVID-19 on April 16. Meanwhile, a total of five cases, MAV024, MAV025, MAV026, MAV027, and MAV028, tested positive for COVID-19 on April 17 in Male' City.
National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) is conducting contact tracing of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in the capital city. NEOC has asked to inform the Health Protection Agency (HPA) if an individual is known to have contact with the positive cases and to seek medical attention if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Speaking at a press conference held at NEOC, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq from the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) said the most recent two cases, MAV027 and MAV028 did not have any direct contacts with the other positive cases detected in Male' City. Nazla said the investigation is currently underway to identify how the Individuals contracted COVID-19, adding 3 clusters have been detected in the capital city. She stated if the investigation determines the people contracted COVID-19 without a primary source or contact with a positive case, the situation of the society will then fall under grave danger.