Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has stated it is receiving reports of an alarming increase in positive cases, with 1 in 3 samples taken in the Greater Male' Region testing positive for COVID-19.
At a press conference, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed from the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the HEOC said weekly new COVID-19 cases have remained at around 5,000 for the past three weeks, compared to the 900 weekly new cases before. Dr. Shaheed said an average of 700 people are testing positive each day and flu clinics are reporting a 5 to 25 percent increase in positive cases with an alarming increase in positive samples, with samples taken from 1 in 3 people in the Greater Male' Region testing positive for COVID-19. He said the number of hospitalisations are also increasing compared to the weekly average of 100 hospitalisations three weeks prior.
Dr. Shaheed revealed there are 268 patients currently being treated in hospitals, with 16 patients in the ICU, and 10 patients on ventilator support. He said the current trend shows demand for new hospital beds and additional arrangements for Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and Hulhumale' Hospital.
Furthermore, Dr. Shaheed said around 5,000 people in the Greater Male' Region are in home isolation and the rising number of cases could result in failure to immediately treat high-risk individuals. He added a special clinic will be established to treat high-risk individuals, and the HEOC will also be recruiting more health workers and obtaining additional resources.