Facilities near limit, medical workers are being brought from atolls

The government assembled Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the COVID-19 situation in the Maldives has announced that nurses and healthcare workers from other atolls within the country are to be switched to Male' City on a temporary basis, due to an increased overflow in the number of reported virus cases.

The number of cases has not died down, despite measures by the authorities such as mandatory face mask rules and curfews. IGMH senior doctor Dr. Moosa Muraad stated earlier this week that that the situation in the country could lead to the wearing out of healthcare workers.

Speaking in a press conference last night, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed said that efforts to resolve this were now underway.

"Some nurses from other atolls are being brought to the Greater Male' Area to work in facilities here." said Dr. Shaheed. 

No regional facility was currently treating any COVID-19 patients and the high number of cases in the capital, meant that human resources were very much needed in the city. 

Authorities seek healthcare workers as cases stack uphttps://t.co/m9zXCVfkrO

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Dr. Shaheed said that this did not mean that there was no risk of the virus spreading in other islands, and that medical professionals were being sourced from abroad and within the country to manage the facilities.

"Bringing medical professionals from abroad is also not easy. Other countries in the area, such as India also have a high number of cases. and (the virus) is spreading very quickly. So, bringing workers from there is going to be very difficult." said Dr. Shaheed.

The government was also holding discussions with the private sector to increase the manpower. 

HEOC yesterday announced that it was seeking for medical professionals to join operations. Case