Former parliament representative for Raa atoll, Ismail Zakariyya, 79, has been placed on a ventilator following Covid-19 complications.

His son and the information officer at the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Major Ibrahim Azim told RaajjeMV that his father tested positive for the virus on August 14, after being identified as a contact of a previously confirmed patient.

Noting that he was first transferred to the Hulhumalé Medical Facility, Azim said that his father was moved to the 11th floor of the Dharumvantha Hospital following health complications and placed on a ventilator.

The MNDF officer said that Zakariyya’s condition is now “stable,” adding that some other members of the family have tested positive for coronavirus as well.

Zakariyya is a long serving public servant; he had served as the Raa atoll representative at parliament for two terms.

His last role was at the Ministry of Sports.

While Maldives has confirmed over 6,000 Covid-19 cases since March, there are currently 152 patients admitted at hospitals. Eight of the patients are in the intensive care unit while three are on ventilation.