Maldives has 97 ventilators, seeks 103 more

The Maldivian government has announced it has 97 ventilators situated in health facilities across the Maldives.

At a National Emergency Operations Center press briefing on Monday, government spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez said the Maldives had 97 ventilators in Male’, regional hospitals and private hospitals.

In response to a question by Sun during an earlier press briefing, Mabrouq had said that the government was working establishing a setup of 200 ventilators in Maldives, and that orders had already been placed to acquire 70 ventilators from overseas.

 “We are working on bringing in 70 ventilators. Its secure. Transport arrangements are being made,” he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shortage in ventilators and other medical equipment needed to treat serious cases of the disease.

18 have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, including two Italian nationals who had departed from Maldives before they were identified as virus patients.

13 of them, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either vacationing or working in resorts or safaris, have since recovered.

The number of active cases now stands at three; all of whom are Maldivian nationals who recently returned from the UK. They have been in quarantine since returning to Maldives, as is now mandatory for all inbound passengers, with the exception of tourists with resort bookings.