Health Protection Agency (HPA) has warned a surge in COVID-19 cases is expected later this month.
Speaking at a press conference, the Medical Officer of HPA Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said on average over 1,000 weekly COVID-19 cases have been reported in the past three weeks. She said the spread of the Omicron variant threatens to increase COVID-19 cases significantly in the country. She noted the Delta variant previously only spread in the Greater Male' Region but that the new surge might greatly affect the atolls, as the Delta and Omicron variants have recently been found outside of Male' City. She predicted COVID-19 cases are expected to peak in late January or early February in Male' and the atolls.
The number of COVID-19 cases was low from October to December last year but the number of cases increased following the school holidays and the increase in travel to the islands and abroad. HPA has announced strict COVID-19 measures, including requiring travellers to the atolls to take PCR tests and for unvaccinated travellers to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Ministry of Education has also ordered schools to open with strict health measures in place, due to the increased number of COVID-19 cases in the Maldives.
HPA said authorities are now reviewing the current situation to prepare to implement stricter measures.