MALE, May 7 (NNN-PSM) – The number of COVID-19 cases in Maldives crossed 600 on Wednesday, with over 40 new confirmed cases.
Forty-four new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Maldives on Wednesday, raising the country’s total to 618, out of which 212 are Maldives citizens, with the remaining 406 foreign citizens, mainly from Bangladesh and India.
World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to the Maldives, Dr. Arvind Mathur, told local media that, conveying accurate information was vital to tackling the pandemic, and that the Maldives’ state and private media have excelled in this regard.
Dr. Mathur also congratulated the Maldives government, for its preemptive measures, including setting up thermal cameras at airports and increasing capacity of medical facilities.
Two COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, while 20 patients have made full recoveries. There are around 1,790 people in quarantine and 555 people in isolation facilities.
Confirmed cases in the Maldives spiked after community transmission was identified in the capital Male, on Apr 15, with migrant communities in the city being among the most vulnerable to infection.
The Maldives is under a State of Public Health Emergency until May 31, and the capital region of Greater Male has been placed under lock-down until May 14.– NNN-PSM
