Ali Waheed: It is not yet time to bring in a floating hospital

Tourism Minister Ali Waheed, on Monday, said that the virus situation in Maldives had not deteriorated to the level it required bringing in emergency medical aid ships or ‘floating hospitals’.

At the National Emergency Operations Center press briefing this afternoon, Ali Waheed said that the national COVID-19 emergency response effort was being coordinated under the guidance of the President, and that the medical professionals, coupled with the military and police forces were capable enough to manage the situation even in face of heightening danger.

“Others will be called in once we fall. The situation has not deteriorated to the level we require foreign assistance. The worst-case scenario is in play,” said Ali Waheed.

Ali Waheed said that the time to bring in a floating hospital would be when “our defenses collapse”.

He said that medical professionals, military officers, police officers and others working in the frontlines of the emergency response effort were well aware of the risks.

“The government is working to ensure we are successful in our efforts and able to avoid bringing in a floating hospital, In Sha Allah,” said Ali Waheed.

At a previous press conference, prior to the emergence of the community spread in Male’, Ali Waheed had stated that the government was ready to deal with even a worst-case scenario, and was also ready to bring in a floating hospital through the Foreign Ministry, if necessary.

214 have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, the vast majority of them from Male’. Health authorities reporting the biggest one-day spike in new cases on Sunday with 74 cases.