Male' City confirms sixth case of Covid-19

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed just a while ago that a sixth case of Covid-19 was tested positive in Male' City.

The news means that the country has confirmed a total of 26 Covid-19 cases.

In a tweet on its official account, HPA stated that the confirmed case today is another individual who was in direct contact with Patient 23, the third case of the virus confirmed in Male’ City on Wednesday. The confirmed case today is being moved to an isolation facility right now.

Two cases of the virus (Patient 24 and Patient 25) were also confirmed late last night. They were tested positive while in quarantine and were later moved to an isolation facility.

Case: MAV026

Samples taken from a Maldivian national who was a Direct Contact of Case: MAV023 has tested POSITIVE for #COVID19.

This is the 6th person to became POSITIVE for COVID-19 in Malé.

The person is currently being taken to an Isolation facility#StayHome #StaySafe

— Health Protection Agency (@HPA_MV) April 17, 2020

Patient 21, the first confirmed case of the virus in the populous capital was a resident of M. Jareemaage. The next case of the virus, Patient 22 was later tested positive and identified as the child of Patient 21. Patient 23, the third case of the virus in the capital, had been in direct contact with Patient 21, according to the HPA. Authorities are still working to determine exactly how Patient 21 was infected with the virus. It has still not been confirmed who “Patient 0” or the index case in Male’ City is.

The government is conducting vigorous testing and contact tracing following the confirmed cases. Those who tested positive for the virus are in the isolation facility in Farkolhufushi. 14 symptomatic others were also moved to the isolation facility in Hulhule’ Island Hotel after coming into contact with the positive cases.

A total of 305 people has been isolated following contact with Patient 21 and Patient 23. 157 individuals in the High-Risk and Medium-Risk categories were quarantined. The confirmed cases tonight are individuals from the in the aforementioned categories.

They include 82 in High-Risk and 71 in the Medium-Risk category. 89 individuals determined as Low-Risk have also been asked to home isolate.

The Maldives has so far confirmed 26 cases of Covid-19. These include six from Male' City while the remainder were tested positive from quarantine or isolation facilities, resorts and safaris.