Health officials have expressed concern over the surge in Covid-19 cases, which in turn has led to an increase in patients requiring treatment at hospital.

At the nightly Covid-19 press briefing held at the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) on Saturday, Dr. Ali Latheef also expressed worry over increase in the number of people seen on the streets without masks following lockdown easing.

Further stressing that people are not practicing social distancing rules, the doctor noted that this could lead to an even bigger increase in cases.

He also expressed concern over the increase in patients admitted at hospital for treatment, adding that the number has increased this month compared to the previous month.

Noting that four percent of the patients were admitted by the last month of June, Dr. Latheef said that this increased to 15 percent by the first week of July.

Further noting that a number of the patients have other underlying health conditions, the doctor said that those with such conditions are at a significantly increased risk of severe disease if infected with the virus.

Dr. Latheef also revealed the increase in the people consulting at flu clinics.

Covid-19 projections from May showed the virus spreading among two groups; communal living infections where many individuals live together, and household infections. Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s consultant Dr. Sheena Moosa had said that there would be an increase in number of patients requiring treatment at hospital as the virus reaches households.