Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has revealed five COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment on ventilators in the Maldives.
Speaking in a press conference held at HEOC, Epidemiologist at Health Protection Agency (HPA) Dr. Ibrahim Afzal said 169 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalised for treatment. He said 10 COVID-19 are currently being treated in ICU, including 5 patients who have been put on ventilators.
Statistics of the HPA revealed over 1,000 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives last week, while 4 individuals succumbed to the disease. A total of 26 people have died from COVID-19 in the Maldives.
During the initial stage of a community spread in the Maldives, the number of people admitted for treatment and patients undergoing treatment on ventilators were low. However, since July, the number of patients admitted for treatment have been on the rise with the increase of new COVID-19 cases. The authorities have noted patients undergoing treatment on ventilators and the percentage of high-risk patients and patients under treatment for long-term illnesses contracting the virus have increased.
A ventilator offers the best chance of survival for patients with the worst effects of COVID-19. A ventilator takes over the body's breathing process when a patient suffers from breathing difficulties when infected by COVID-19.