Covid-19: Maldives reports less than 100 new cases, active cases drop to 2,472

With less than 100 new Covid-19 infections confirmed over the past 24 hours, active cases across the Maldives have dropped below 2,500.

Latest daily figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that 86 out of the 5,653 samples collected between 6pm Sunday and 6pm Monday tested positive for coronavirus.

Of Monday's cases, 31 were from the Greater Malé Region, 37 from outlying atolls and the remaining 18 were from operational resorts.

With these developments, Maldives coronavirus case tally currently sits at 77,633.

Although Maldives continues to report a majority of new infections from outlying atolls, cases being confirmed in the capital region has remained between the 20-30 mark over the past few days.

By sundown on Monday, active Covid-19 cases had dropped to 2,472 from the previous day's 2,556 with an additional 170 recoveries reported; a total of 74,928 patients have recovered in the island nation.

One more Covid-19 patient was discharged from the hospital, meaning that the hospital admissions have dropped to 19.

The country's death toll from Covid-19 stands at 221 with the last one reported on Thursday evening.

The Covid-19 caseload began spiking in the beginning of May once again, not long after Maldives was able to control a spike in cases into the beginning of the year. The fourth wave was confirmed after 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.

This prompted authorities to strengthen safety measures and restrictions across the nation. However in early July a number of these measures were eased in time for Eid-Al-Adha and Independence Day holidays.

Daily numbers in the capital region have been significantly declining since then. In July authorities allowed individuals who have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus to travel domestically without the need to quarantine, with a negative PCR test result. On July 15, Maldives lifted a ban on travelers from South Asia due to the worsening coronavirus situation in the region, however, they were only allowed to stay in resorts with transit facilities designated by the Ministry of Tourism for the first 15 days. They were allowed to travel to islands with guesthouses from July 30.

The state of public health emergency announced on 12 March 2020 was extended for a 17th time on Monday, to expire on September 1.