Authorities continue search for two more missing Covid-19 expat patients

The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has revealed that authorities are still seeking out two of the seven Bangladeshi nationals who went missing in action after testing positive for the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) through random testing.

The Covid-19 spokesperson, Mohamed Mabrook Aziz revealed that authorities are still continuing the search for the remaining two expatriates.

Authorities earlier caught five of the Bangladeshi nationals who went missing after testing positive for the virus, and one of them was placed on a ventilator at the Tree Top Hospital, which has been allocated the primary National Covid-19 Treatment Center. However, the patient has since been taken off ventilator support.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) earlier sought assistance from the Maldives Police Service (MPS) to look for them after they went missing.

Mabrook cited the police having given the task force, assurance that such incidents will not take place in expat living quarters under police surveillance.

As per protocol, the Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru will publicize personal information of those in hiding, if they do not present themselves to the authorities. The Director General of public health is authorized to do so under powers vested to her by the Public Health Act.

Thus far, HPA has not had to disclose personal information of a Covid-19 patient, however, individuals have been warned that their information will be publicized if they do not follow authorities’ instructions.

This comes at a number of Bangladeshi nationals are testing positive for Covid-19 in the Maldives and they have been deemed at high risk of contracting the virus, due to their living conditions and lifestyles. A majority of the Covid-19 cases discovered in the Greater Malé Region are of Bangladeshi nationals who are forced to reside in confined living spaces in large groups.

Authorities have since begun work to transfer them to better facilities, and are also working with the Bangladeshi government to repatriate a number of them, stranded in the Maldives.

Earlier this week, the HPA began a mobile medical operation for migrants living in quarters under police surveillance under which they are provided medical assistance and the team also completed an assessment into the current living conditions of these migrant workers.