Epidemiologist at the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Dr. Ibrahim Afzal has said that the Maldives is currently experiencing the fourth wave of COVID-19 and the cases are likely to remain high for over a month's time.

Speaking on PSM last night, Dr. Afzal said that the highest peak in cases in Maldives was in May 2021. And during that peak caused by the Delta Variant, the high number of cases were mostly confined to the Male' City area. However, the Omicron peak or the fourth peak is showing high number of cases in the atolls as well.

Dr. Afzal said that the COVID-19 situation in the country is quite bad at the moment and is expected to be worse at the end of the month.

He said that this most recent peak is much more dangerous than the three previous peaks and with the high number of cases, it may last longer.

And 25 percent of the samples being tested for COVID-19 are testing positive.

Dr. Afzal said that the Omicron variant is deemed dangerous because how easily it spreads. And if spreads more, the number of people in critical condition are going to increase as well.

Highlighting that the preventive measures put in place in the atolls are not being implemented the best, Dr. Afzal said that they are trying to control the wave with the current measures. And if that does not work, other measures will be taken.