The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has revealed that a total of 239 frontline workers have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Maldives.

Speaking during a press briefing held at the NEOC headquarters on Friday night, Epidemiologist at Health Protection Agency (HPA), Dr. Ibrahim Afzal confirmed that while the number sat at 199 by May 16, it has surpassed 200 since.

Among the infected frontline workers are healthcare workers, security personnel as well as others working on the frontlines of battling the global pandemic.

According to statistics provided by the HPA, most cases involving frontline workers were detected on May 8, at 51 cases.

These cases are included among the major clusters identified in the Maldives.

Earlier, it was revealed that a number of Maldives Police Service (MPS) and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) officers have also contracted the virus.

With a number of frontline workers contracting the infection in the country, the President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has on numerous occasions, applauded their sacrifices and courage shown in their line of work.

Since the detection of the first community transmission in the capital Malé City on April 15, a total of 1,274 individuals have tested positive for the virus.