187 out of 5,613 samples test positive for Covid-19 in 24 hours

187 out of 5,613 samples tested positive for Covid-19 between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday.

According to the latest statistics released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) the new cases include 84 in the Greater Malé Region, 91 from residential islands and seven from operational resorts. Five new Covid-19 infections were also confirmed from liveaboard vessels in the past 24 hours.

This pushes Maldives Covid-19 case tally to 71,896.

Maldives has observed a total of 66,379 recoveries from Covid-19, with 289 recoveries reported by sundown on Sunday.

Further, HPA confirmed that the country’s active Covid-19 tally has dropped to 5,300 from 5,403 in a single day.

The number of hospital admissions remain unchanged from the previous day, at 46.

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 were extended from 4pm to 8am and authorities also imposed movement restrictions for capital region residents outside the curfew hours. The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) revealed that special permits are required to go out from 8am to 4pm.

However, the public health authority on June 15 reduced curfew hours in the capital region from 4pm to 4am.

Some of the other restrictions eased include allowing individual exercises in public between 4am to 8am without the need for a permit.

Mosques across the capital region have been opened for individual prayers. Schools as well as offices and state institutions will remain closed for another fortnight, as well as the halt on sports activities.

The public health authorities are working to publicize special guidelines under which salons and barber shops may resume services. Further, construction work has also been allowed to resume under the set guidelines and a special permit issued by the city council.

The travel restrictions between Malé City and residential islands remain effective including the restrictions on travelers from South Asian countries.

Maldives remains in a state of public health emergency since 12 March 2020 which was last extended to expire on 3 July.