National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has stated the current rate at which COVID-19 is spreading in the Maldives threatens to incapacitate the healthcare system of the country, particularly in acquiring the services of doctors and nurses.
Speaking at the daily press briefing, Spokesperson of NEOC Mohamed Mabrook Azeez noted the Maldives currently has 2 doctors and 7 nurses for every 1,000 people of the population. Mabrook said difficulties will arise in acquiring the services of doctors and nurses if the number of COVID-19 cases keeps increasing at the current rate. He said the target is to control the current rate of spread by imposing restrictive measures, adding it is crucial the graphical curve of spread is flattened and maintained within the capacity of the healthcare system.
Currently, there are 905 doctors and 2,970 nurses working in the Maldives. NEOC revealed the medical students who are being brought from Nepal and Bangladesh will join the medical teams after completing their mandatory 14-day quarantine period and undertaking the required training.
In total, 67 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives, with the majority of cases recorded from Male' City since the detection of the disease in the capital on April 15.