The Minister of Health, Abdulla Ameen has stressed that authorities might need to quarantine the people at home, in light of the ever-changing situation of Covid-19 in the country.
Joining Saturday afternoon’s press briefing to provide the latest updates of the Covid-19 situation in the Maldive to the people, the minister stated that the government had estimated the spread of the disease to increase to this rate, when the community transmission began.
However, the number of direct contacts identified through contact tracing is particularly high, said the minister.
He further noted that work was carried out while keeping in mind that individuals may have travelled to an outlying atoll, before the positive cases began emerging.
Doctors and medical professionals are currently working to bring the required changes to step up the treatment of the disease even now, said Ameen.
As such, the government expects changes to be brought to the quarantine procedures as well.
In addition, the minister noted that home-quarantine and quarantine at a medical facility are two different things.
The minister highlighted that individuals may need to be quarantined at home in order to slow the spread of the disease.
People are quarantined to influence the speed of the spread. Isolating symptomatic individuals is also done to slow the spread of the disease. Testing for the virus despite no symptoms being observed is also done with this purpose. These are the things being done to influence the spread of the disease. Individuals are taken to health facilities or hospitals when their condition reaches the required stage.”Minister Ameen
The minister noted that this measure will be taken after thorough discussions with the relevant authorities. In case this measure is to be implemented, there is a set of protocols that will be followed.
Highlighting that there challenges in the face of every measure taken against the virus, Ameen highlighted that these measures are taken for the safety of everyone.
Also speaking at the press, Dr. Ali Latheef stated that the number of positive cases is expected to spike in the coming days and that a home-quarantine will be put in place if direct contacts increase.
The people have been urged to be prepared for such a situation.
Further, he added that the chances are slim for individuals to contract the virus through someone who has completed a 14-day quarantine period. However, individuals have been urged to report to the relevant authorities if they exhibit symptoms even after the quarantine period.
