Maldives reports less than 1,000 daily Covid-19 infections again as recoveries exceed 29,000

Maldives Covid-19 tally has surpassed the 47,000-mark with over 1,400 new infections confirmed by sundown on Tuesday.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) late Tuesday, a total of 1,465 Covid-19 new infections were detected nationwide, of which 948 correspond to positive cases from backlog samples whereas 517 Covid-19 infections were reported between 6pm Monday and 6pm Tuesday.

HPA tested 3,703 samples for Covid-19 over the past 24 hours and the new infections detected include 1,213 reported in the Greater Malé Region, 244 from residential islands and eight from operational resorts.

Maldives has the capacity to test up to 5,000 samples nationwide. Out of the testing centers, IGMH has the capacity to test 2,000 samples on a daily basis, Hulhumalé Hospital 500 and Police Laboratory 1,000. With this being said, testing capacity is being strengthened across outlying atolls as well, with Addu Equatorial Hospital, Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital, Dharavandhoo and Kudahuvadhoo islands all having a 300-sample testing capacity on a daily basis. Further, GeneXpert machines in Haa Dhaal, Shaviyani, Raa, Baa, Laamu, Gaaf Alif, Gaaf Dhaal and Fuvahmulah City have the capacity to test 48 samples everyday.

The Ministry of Health currently has a stock of 35,000 testing kits, whereas there are 73,420 testing kits remaining in the STO stock.

With the new developments, Maldives Covid-19 total case count has been pushed to 47,421 with the country’s active tally currently sitting at 18,221.

During a press conference on Tuesday night, Spokesperson at the President’s Office, Mabrook Aziz revealed that the active cases include 14,188 Maldivians and 2,809 foreigners. 261 children under 18 years of age as well as 47 individuals over 65 years are also among the active cases.

Over the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries observed nationwide were pushed to 29,086, with 237 recoveries reported over the past 24 hours.

With a recent spike in daily infections, hospital admissions have also doubled. Statistics reveal that the number of hospital admissions remain unchanged from the previous day, at 268. Of this, 18 patients are seeking treatment at Dharumavantha Hospital including seven on the 11th floor out of which five are on ventilator support, eight on the 17th floor and three on the 16th floor.

Further, four persons are admitted at the Hiyaa Wing’s “A” ward of Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), whereas 196 Covid-19 patients are being treated at Hulhumalé Medical Facility of which 187 patients are in wards and four are currently in the Intensive Care Unit. Five patients in Hulhumalé Medical Facility are on ventilator support.

29 Covid-19 patients are receiving in-hospital treatment at Hulhumalé Hosptal as well, with two patients in Addu City, four in Eydhafushi island of Baa atoll, nine in Funadhoo island of Shaviyani atoll and six in Gan island of Laamu atoll.

Shedding light on the country’s oxygen generation capacity, Mabrook revealed that one oxygen plant is operational in Addu City, with the capacity to fill up 48 jumbo cylinders. Another plant in Kulhudhuffushi City has the capacity to fill up 20 jumbo cylinders. Further, there are three plants in Maldive Gas with a 240-jumbo-cylinder capacity. Authorities are also operating a plant in IGMH.

Overall Maldives currently has 250 jumbo cylinders across all Covid-19 facilities nationwide, with 2,402 oxygen cylinders remaining in stock which total 2,960 full cylinders nationwide.

The Covid-19 caseload has begun spiking in recent weeks at a time Maldives was able to control a spike in cases into the beginning of the new year, with strengthened measures such as a curfew period and travel restrictions. However, authorities lifted the measures in place in time for the fasting month of Ramadan 1442 as well as the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections held in mid-April.

Measures were strengthened across the Maldives earlier in May with authorities having imposed a curfew in the capital region from 4pm to 4am. HPA has also urged civil servants as well as those employed in private companies to work from home in order to slow the spread. Recently HPA also increased the quarantine period for travel within islands to 14 days. Other measures include closing down daycare centers, halting tuition and Quran classes as well as halting physical classes at schools. These measures have since been extended for another fortnight.

The authorities have revealed that discussions are currently underway on the possibilities of imposing a second lockdown across the Covid-19 epicenter. Currently, 60 islands are under monitoring of which GDh Vaadhoo, B Dharavandhoo and HA Guraidhoo were recently placed under monitoring.

Public health authorities continue to stress the importance of following Covid-19 health and safety measures set to control transmission of the virus, including social distancing, avoiding public gatherings, maintaining hand hygiene and effective masking while outdoors.

Maldives has been in a state of public health emergency for over a year and the last extension is set to expire on June 3.