Covid-19 in Maldives

Covid-19 Strikes Maldives

Maldives is a country which can be identified as a black dot in the World Map. The Republic of Maldives is a group of islands in Indian Ocean, which has 1192 islands that stretch along a length of 871 kilometres and covers an area of approximately 90,000 square kilometres.

Inhabitants in Maldives

Only 298 square kilometre is dry land. The islands are grouped into a double chain of 26 atolls. Only 200 of the islands are inhabited and some selected are being used for resorts, industry and agriculture. This country is populated with around 5,00,000 inhabitants.

The capital of Maldives 

The city Malé, which is traditionally called “the King’s Island” is the capital of this country, which is densely populated with migrant works and expatriates.

Covid-19 in Maldives

The coronavirus didn’t spare this beautiful country from its rage. At the beginning of March, the country was happy because there were no Covid-19 positive cases.  A week later, unfortunately, a foreign national had tested positive for Covid-19 in a resort in Thinadhoo Island. That was the first infected case in Maldives.

Preventive Measures Taken

Instantly, the country also has taken preventive measures. The yellow alert for national level and orange alert in affected islands and resorts was declared. However, there were a total of 15 foreign nationals were infected with the virus. The government of the Maldives has declared a State of Public Health Emergency from 12 March 2020.

Repatriation

Later, the official sighed because there were no new positive cases found. Most of the stranded tourists from different country had been repatriated. Moreover, the Maldives also evacuated its own people those who stranded in different countries. At the End of March, five Maldivian nations had tested positive for Covid-19 those who arrived from the UK and Philippine.

Simultaneously, the government was very aware and was satisfied because there was no community spread in the nation until April 15^th.

Unexpected Outbreak - Community Spread

The next day, out of blue, a Maldivian national who presented to Malé Flu Clinic had tested positive for Covid-19, who has no recent travel history. Moreover, he has no direct or indirect contact with any Covid-19 positive cases. Consequently, it was confirmed as community spread in the capital city Malé, including its suburbs Villimale and Hulhumale. 

The government of the Maldives had declared Red alert to the city and a complete lockdown for 14 days to mitigate the rapid spread of the outbreak. Within 2days, Covid-19 positive cases reached more than 50 including Bangladeshis and Indians. The positive cases have been transferred to an isolated facility. 

Now, the virus is spreading not only in the capital but in islands also. A large number of people are working in the Capital Malé from the distanced islands. Now, a significant number of people have returned to their native islands. Some of them have contacts with the positive cases. So, they have been quarantined. Consequently, the community spread extends to the national level in the Maldives.

Medical Facilities

For all the critical medical treatment the Maldivian nationals used to go to India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Obviously, it shows the lack of sufficient medical facilities in this country. Hence, there is an assumption among the people. They assume that if the community spread develops, the medical crisis will occur due to the lack of ample medical facilities. Consequently, the people in this country are panic and distress.

On the other hand, the Maldivan government and Health Protection Agency have taken an adequate measure to relieve the issues.

The requirements of Medical Facilities

The parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed stated that at present 235 Intensive Care beds, 687 Hospital beds and 45 ventilators are available in Maldives.

Moreover, he announced the following requirements to strengthen the medical

facilities in the Maldives:

•         Intensive Care Beds - 247
•         Hospital Beds - 740
•         Ventilators - 197
•         Doctors - 367
•         Intensive Care Nurses - 608
•         Nurse Attendants 252

The Government Prepared Appropriate Measures

On 15^th March 2020, the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) also warned that if there is no measure taken against the virus, over 96,000 people may become infected with Covid-19. In addition, the health protection agency (HPA)’s Medical Officer Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said that if adequate precautionary measures not being taken, over 96,000 people are at risk of being infected with the virus. The report says more than 46,000 people will be infected from capital Malé and 51,000 will be from other islands. She added that it triggers to its extreme level within 40 to 50 days and 5000 cases may occur daily. She advised personal hygiene and social distancing to mitigate the outbreak. Moreover, the government spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez has announced that the government of Maldives has received six portable ventilators so far and is set to receive 38 within this month.

Expatriates in Maldives

Over 50,000 expatriate workers have been working as professionals and labourers in the Maldives from different countries. A majority of professionals are from India and labourers from Bangladesh. The expatriate workers are panic and assumed that the present medical facilities couldn't be enough for even Maldivians if the outbreak worsens. 

Bangladesh High Commission started to repatriate the Bangladeshis, those who don't have proper documents and valid work permit. Indian expatriates also plead for an evacuation from the Maldives. 

However, the Indian central government is not ready to evacuate own people although the state governments are ready. The High Commission of India Explained that a complete lockdown is placed entire nation till May 03, 2020. So the government is advising the stranded people to stay where they are.