COVID-19: 13 test positive while 98 recover

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed that 13 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives.

The confirmed cases tonight include:

• 07 locals
• 05 Bangladeshi nationals
• 01 Indonesian national

This is the first time an Indonesian national has tested positive for the virus. One of the confirmed cases tonight include an elderly local who has other health complications, NEOC officials have confirmed.

The total number of cases confirmed in the Maldives now stands at 1,916. Currently, there are 428 individuals in quarantine facilities along with 1,049 individuals in isolation facilities. Authorities have so far collected 30,888 samples for the virus, including repeat samples.

The Maldives has so far recorded eight deaths due to the virus. They include four elderly locals and four Bangladeshi nationals.

98 individuals recover from the virus

National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) also announced that 98 individuals have made recoveries from the virus tonight.

Speaking in a press conference currently underway, NEOC spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez said confirmed that the number of recoveries in the Maldives has now increased to 925. Due to the new recoveries tonight, the number of active cases in the country has also dropped to 981. 

✳️ COVID-19 Case Updates

As of 06:00 PM

Confirmed an additional 13 cases of COVID-19 infections in Maldives

- 07 Maldivians
- 05 Bangladeshis
- 01 Indonesian

Total number of cases: 1,916 pic.twitter.com/PLuvJXtzXZ

— Health Protection Agency (@HPA_MV) June 8, 2020

The country identified its first COVID-19 case on March 7 and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic four days later on March 11. Male’ City identified its first COVID-19 case on April 15, prompting a city-wide lockdown and a nationwide ban on nonessential travel.

The populous capital has since become the epicenter of the outbreak in the country, contributing to over 90 percent of the total cases.

Just 33 percent of the cases in the country are Maldivians, while the remaining 67 percent are foreign nationals. 1,027 people – making for 54 percent of total cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the cases include 646 Maldivians, 190 Indians.

While the authorities have begun relaxing the Male’ lockdown in a bid to promote economic activity, health experts continue to warn people to wear masks, practice social distancing, practice good hygiene and maintain other infection-prevention measures.