Malé City records lowest rise in Covid-19 cases in months

Maldives has reported the lowest single-day Covid-19 cases across the virus epicenter Malé City, on Wednesday, at a time authorities have eased safety precautions and restrictions following a decline in cases.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) 138 new cases and 351 recoveries were confirmed by sundown on Wednesday.

The new cases were confirmed from 4,923 samples tested between 6pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday and 13 cases were reported across the congested capital city.

Of the new infections, 105 were from residential islands whereas 13 were detected in the islands revealed for industrial purposes and seven from operational resorts.

Maldives Covid-19 case count currently sits at 73,798.

The number of active coronavirus cases in the island nation has dropped to 3,602 from 3,815 within the past 24 hours.

The country has observed a total of 69,974 recoveries so far.

Statistics go on to reveal that one more Covid-19 patient was hospitalized for treatment, meaning that 28 patients are currently receiving in-hospital treatment.

Not long after Maldives was able to control a spike in cases into the beginning of the year, the Covid-19 caseload began spiking in the beginning of May once again. This came not long after authorities lifted the measures in place before a fourth wave was confirmed, 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 initially from 4pm to 4am. On 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, making it mandatory for residents to carry household permits to go out from 8am to 4pm. Following a decline in cases, once again public health authorities have reduced curfew hours in the capital thrice round.

Authorities reduced curfew hours from 8pm to 4am starting Thursday, authorized mosques to reopen for congregational prayers with social distancing, gave the go ahead for cafés, restaurants and food outlets to resume dine-in services as well as allowing capital region residents to go out during non-curfew hours without a permit. All businesses are also to resume operations starting July 1, when work-permit holders from South Asian countries will also be allowed to return to Maldives. Maldives will reopen borders for tourists visiting from South Asian countries, on July 15.

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