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Government to add new ICU beds, establish more isolation facilities

Government of the Maldives has commenced efforts to add new ICU beds in hospitals and establish more isolation facilities due to the rising number of new COVID-19 cases.

At a press conference held at the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), Spokesperson at the President's Office Mohamed Mabrook Azeez said the government needs to increase the capacity for treatment due to the high number of sick people. The spokesperson said the government began adding new ICU beds after all the beds designated for COVID-19 treatment on the 11th floor of Dharumavantha Hospital became occupied. He said 12 new ICU beds are in operation in the Hulhumale' Medical Facility and 8 new beds will be in operation at the facility soon. He also said the government is working to add 50 new beds at Hulhumale' Hospital and establish more isolation facilities, including re-opening the Velidhoo isolation facility.

The Maldives has been reporting a record number of positive COVID-19 cases each day, with the latest updates from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) showing over 700 new cases in each of the last two days. Most of the cases were reported in the Greater Male' Region.