Maldives active Covid-19 cases have dropped to 24,818 from 25,419 within 24 hours.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 901 of the 4,821 samples collected for Covid-19 testing across the nation between 6pm Thursday and 6pm Friday returned positive for coronavirus. This is the first time in days that Maldives has reported less than 1,000 single-day infections. It has been four days since public health authorities have been reporting less than 1,000 new infections across the congested capital region, also the Covid-19 epicenter of Maldives as well.

The new infections include 468 reported in the Greater Malé Region, 417 from residential islands and 11 from operational resorts. Further HPA also confirmed four new cases from islands under development and an additional case from an industrial island.

Over the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries observed nationwide were pushed to 36,862, with 1,497 recoveries reported between 6pm Thursday and 6pm Friday.

With this development the Maldives Covid-19 case tally has reached 61,844.

With a recent spike in daily infections, hospital admissions have also doubled. Statistics reveal that the number of hospital admissions is currently at 252, 18 less than the previous day. Authorities have also stressed that the number of Covid-19 infections among children have also doubled since the new and more infectious variant of Covid-19 was discovered in the country.

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, which led to the caseload increasing like never observed before.

Measures were strengthened across the Maldives earlier in May with authorities having imposed a curfew in the capital region from 4pm to 4am. Effective Wednesday, the curfew hours have been extended from 4pm to 8am and authorities have also imposed movement restrictions for capital region residents outside the curfew hours. Other measures include disallowing dine-in and takeaway services, allowing delivery services for shops, restaurants and cafés with permits from 6am to 12am. Making the announcement during a press briefing the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) revealed that special permits are required to go out from 8am to 4pm.

HPA revealed that two household permits will be granted to each residence, of which one permit will allow the resident to go out between 8am and 12pm, the other permit holder may go out between 12pm and 4pm. During this period travel between Malé and Hulhumalé is banned. Malé residents will only be allowed to travel to Villimalé.

Establishments that breach the guidelines and provide services other than delivery will be fined up to MVR 5,000.

Measures were intensified at a time authorities had revealed that discussions were underway on the possibilities of imposing a second lockdown across the Covid-19 epicenter.

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.