Gender Ministry says the Home for People with Special Needs in Kaafu Atoll Guraidhoo is currently under lockdown after a COVID outbreak was reported from the home.
Last night, HPA had reported a sudden spike in daily COVID cases which it clarified was brought on by an increase in cases reported from the inhabited islands. HPA further said that while 225 new cases were reported yesterday, 153 were from inhabited islands and that 86 cases were reported from Guraidhoo alone.
In a statement today, the Gender Ministry confirmed that several patients and staff from the home have tested positive for the fast-spreading illness and that effective 6:00 pm last evening the home had been under lockdown.
The Ministry said that unauthorized entry and exit to the home has now been ceased and that it was working with the island's health center to ensure the safety of those inside the home.
The Ministry said that it would be taking the following steps to further control the situation;
- Test all those currently present in the home for COVID-19
- Monitor health conditions of all patients regularly and give appropriate treatment
- Transport positive patients to COVID management facilities
- Isolate all others inside the home to further contain the outbreak
Meanwhile, Gender Minister Aishath Mohamed Didi had discussions with the top officials of the Home and Guraidhoo island council yesterday to seek ways to further contain the outbreak.
During the meeting, the Minister assured that the government was working to provide all necessary resources to the home and the health center to deal with the current outbreak.
The Ministry said this includes providing protective gear for the staff working at the home during its lockdown and other necessary equipment.
It also said that the government is working to send more health care professionals to the island to address the COVID outbreak.
The Gender Ministry said that the Red Crescent of the Maldives was offering online psychosocial support to the patients at the home and those affected by the lockdown of the home.
