Maldives reports over 100 new Covid-19 cases in one day
Country's total case count has reached 396
Community-based random sampling in the capital | RaajjeMV
Over 100 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the Maldives, on Thursday alone.
Authorities have confirmed a total of 396 cases thus far, since March 7.
While authorities had said that there were 280 total cases at the emergency press conference held at around 1:45am on Thursday, Covid-19 Maldives Dashboard by the Health Ministry has been updated to 301 cases (21 new cases, with 12 confirmed on Thursday); these new cases are four Bangladeshis and 17 new Maldivians including the 83-year-old woman whose test results came back after her death.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) tweeted about an additional 95 cases on Thursday evening; 61 Bangladeshis, 32 Indians and two Nepalese nationals.
HPA also said "these samples were taken from individuals in isolation at a vulnerable house placed under police surveillance".
A community survey was carried out as expatriate workers are at a high risk of contracting the virus in the country and in turn spreading the disease, particularly in the capital given that most are made to reside in small, unhygienic and congested spaces.
While movement in and out of at least eight such areas are being controlled by police officers, it is not clear whether the movement control measure did not lead to a surge in cases from these places.
There have been decongestion programmes as well.
Nationalities of confirmed patients in Maldives:
