Covid-19: Maldives reports 129 new cases, 140 recoveries
Healthcare authorities strengthened measures nationwide in light of spiking cases on May 26, restrictions have since been eased
Sample collected for Covid-19 testing
111 out of 129 new Covid-19 cases detected nationwide between 6pm Sunday and 6pm Monday, were from residential islands.
According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) 4,913 samples were tested for coronavirus over the past 24 hours. Out of the remaining cases, 15 were from the capital region, two from operational resorts and one from a liveaboard vessel.
This is the ninth consecutive day where the daily case numbers nationwide have been reported below 200.
Currently, Maldives Covid-19 case tally sits at 74,480.
Over the past 24 hours, Maldives active Covid-19 cases dropped from 3,237 to 3,226.
Further HPA revealed that the total number of recoveries observed from the virus thus far has been pushed to 71,029 with 140 recoveries confirmed between 6pm Sunday and 6pm Monday.
Four more Covid-19 patients were hospitalized for treatment by sundown on Monday, meaning that the number of hospital admissions nationwide currently sits at 25.
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.
The curfew hours are currently from 8pm to 4am, and mosques are also reopened for congregational prayers with social distancing. Authorities have also given the go ahead for cafés, restaurants and food outlets to resume dine-in services as well as allowed capital region residents to go out during non-curfew hours without a permit from July 1. All businesses have also resumed operations starting July 1.
Maldives remains in a state of public health emergency since 12 March 2020 which was last extended to expire on 2 August.
