768 out of 5,685 samples tested positive for Covid-19 in 24 hours

768 out of 5,685 samples tested for Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, have returned positive for the infection.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the new infections include 373 reported in the Greater Malé Region, 357 from residential islands and 15 from operational resorts. Further, 15 infections were also confirmed from islands under development. Further, public health authorities detected eight new Covid-19 infections from liveaboard vessels.

It has been a week 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.

With this development Maldives active Covid-19 cases have dropped to 24,035 from 24,109 between 6pm Monday and 6pm Tuesday.

Over the past 24 hours, 834 recoveries were reported, pushing the number of recoveries observed nationwide to 40,951.

Maldives Covid-19 case tally currently sits at 65,164.

Statistics go on to reveal that the number of hospital admissions is currently at 208, which means that four more Covid-19 patients were hospitalized for treatment over the past 24 hours. 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 began spiking into the beginning of May, 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 May 26, 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. 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 are granted to each residence, of which one permit allows 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. Since the measures were implemented, cases have been gradually declining.

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.