Health authorities raise alarm as ICUs fill up in Male' City

Spokesperson for the President's Office Mabrook Azeez has confirmed efforts are now underway to expand the bed capacity of ICUs, hospitals and medical facilities in the Greater Male' Area.

Spokesperson Mabrook made the remarks at a press conference hosted by the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), and stated without a doubt that the Maldives would be forced to increase its treatment capacity for Covid-19 patients as the number of infections being reported are so high. Mabrook said that some facilities were full even now, and that efforts were now underway to install more beds at the facilities.

Detailing the crisis, Spokesperson Mabrook stated that the ICU at DH-11 was now full and that authorities were working to set up an additional eight beds at the 12-bed ICU currently operated at the Hulhumale' Medical Faciltiy.

Spokesperson Mabrook went on to detail that in addition to increasing the capacity of ICUs, health authorities were working to increase the number of beds available at hospitals. As such, a separate building at Hulhumale' Hospital will be converted into a 50-bed isolation facility, with Mabrook adding that efforts were underway to develop more isolation facilities across the Maldives.

Mabrook revealed that the Farukolhufushi Isolation Facility was almost at full capcity, and that Velidhoo, which had previously been used as an isolation facility, would be employed as such a space beginning Thursday.

In providing further insight into the growing health crisis in Maldives, Pediatric cardiologist at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) Dr. Aishath Alina revealed that the same doctors and nurses are treating patients now admitted at the Hulhumale' Medical Facility and IGMH.

Dr. Alina stated as such at a press conference held by the HEOC on Wednesday evening, stressing that the present situation was unimaginably difficult for doctos and nurses tasked with treating Covid-19 patients. Dr. Alina highlighted the importance of following Covid-19 health and safety measures, and noted that a great number of people getting treated at the ER in IGMH were testing positive for Covid-19, and that the public was waiting too long without testing for the infection.

Dr. Alina went on to reveal that the number of pregnant women who were contracting Covid-19 was also on the rise, but noted that no mothers or children were reported to be in serious condition as of now.

The number of Covid-19 cases being reported in the Maldives have spiked sharply over the past week, with over 700 new infections detected on Wednesday alone.