Maldives reports 137 new Covid-19 cases, 246 recoveries
20 Covid-19 patients are currently hospitalized for treatment
Samples collected for Covid-19 testing
Maldives reported 137 new Covid-19 cases alongside 246 recoveries on Sunday.
Latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) indicate that the positive cases were confirmed through 5,151 samples tested between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday.
Of the new cases, 92 were detected in outlying atolls, 30 from the populous capital Malé City, also deemed the coronavirus epicenter of the country while the remaining 15 were from operational resorts.
These developments have pushed the Maldives coronavirus tally to 79,137.
HPA reported that Maldives active Covid-19 case count currently sits at 1,625, which is a decline from the 1,735 active cases of Saturday.
Further, Maldives has also observed a total of 77,277 recoveries from the infection by sundown on Sunday.
Hospital admissions have been pushed to 20, with two Covid-19 patients hospitalized over the past 24 hours.
The country's death toll from Covid-19 stands at 222.
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. The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has since announced a number of additional eases including allowing parties, gatherings and event with no restrictions on participants, so long as safety measures are adhered to. Further, offices have also resumed normal operations, with employees allowed to return to the workplace for their duties. Other eases include allowing restaurants and other food outlets to resume normal services.
Daily numbers in the capital region have been significantly declining since June. 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. Travel without quarantine is only for islands that have no Covid-19 monitoring measures in place.
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 has been extended a 17th time, to expire on September 1.
