14 more cases test positive for COVID-19

The Maldives has confirmed 14 more cases of COVID-19, bringing the national total to 541.

The new cases were announced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during a presidential address underway right now. No details of the 14 cases such as their nationality have been divulged by the authorities yet.

The majority of the cases had originated within the migrant population of the country. Out of the total cases, 183 are Maldivian nationals.

The President stated that the virus had spread the most in the migrant population who are living in overcrowded and congested conditions in the capital, which is also proving to be the most difficult reason to control the virus.

Work to relocate such individuals and to repatriate undocumented migrants in the country was also underway, said the President.

The Maldives has been in a state of Public Health Emergency since early March after the first case of COVID-19 was identified on March 7 which led to a shutdown of schools and government offices in the country.

After 13 more cases were identified on several resorts as well as from returnees from abroad, a community outbreak in the capital Male’ City was identified on April 15.

The case led to a lockdown and curfew on the entire capital area. The virus has now spread to some other inhabited islands in the country as well.

President Solih also warned that the situation in the country could worsen in the next two weeks. The work conducted within that period could pave the way for the country to fully overcome the virus, said the President who advised the public to remain alert and work with extreme care and thought during the next two weeks.