While there have been reports that an individual who passed away in Thulhadhoo island of Baa atoll had tested positive for Covid-19, authorities have denied this.

The individual died while under home quarantine.

Speaking at Saturday night’s Covid-19 press briefing at the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed that samples taken after the man’s death had come back positive.

However, stressing that his cause of death was a heart attack, the doctor said that his death has been ruled as “not Covid-19 related”.

While the man’s death has been ruled such, Maldives has confirmed 15 deaths to Covid-19.

Two were reported last week, both locals; a 42-year-old succumbed to the virus on Thursday while a 79-year-old woman passed away on Tuesday.