New virus variants could emerge in the Maldives, warns HEOC The Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has warned that a new variant of the COVID-19 virus may emerge in the Maldives. In a press conference held on Monday, HEOC said while the number of positive cases keep increasing, the number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 has tripled over the past few days. While 160 patients are admitted at Hulhumale' Medical Facility alone, the ICU center established at main government hospital, Dharumavantha Hospital has reached 50 percent capacity, said HEOC. The number of people developing severe symptoms are also increasing, said HEOC. While new variant of the virus are emerging in different parts of the world, it is likely that such a variant may emerge in the Maldives, said HEOC. Infections due to some variants are not picked up by PCR tests, and these cases are detected much later when the person's health deteriorates significantly, they added. All indications point to the fact that the country's situation continues to worsen, said HEOC, further warning that the Maldives' situation could reach the same level as that in India and Nepal.