President met a direct contact of positive case, transmission risk low: Dr. Nazla

Spokesperson at the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) Dr. Nazla Rafeeq has revealed that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had met with a direct contact linked to a positive case in the Maldives Media Council, but maintains that the risk of transmission of the virus is low.

Dr. Nazla made the remarks at Thursday night's press briefing, highlighting that the chances that those who participated in the meeting could contract the virus were decreased as it was conducted in accordance to social distancing rules and new normal guidelines.

The spokesperson said that it had only come to light that President Solih had met with the contact after the meeting had concluded, but that no one at the gathering could be considered to have come in to contact with the individual linked to the positive case since the meeting had proceeded as per HPA regulations.

Commenting on the state of the pandemic in the country, Dr. Nazla said that daily life would not return to normal until vaccines were acquired and administered to a significant portion of the population.

Dr. Nazla also stressed the importance of taking all the steps necessary to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in the country before vaccines could be secured, and said that the current easing of new normal restrictions could only be maintained with full support from the public in following existing health and safety regulations.