K. Male'
|
26 Aug 2021 | Thu 11:12
Covid-19 testing
Covid-19 testing
Yoosuf Sofwan Rasheed
Covid-19 community transmission
Maldives reports 110 new Covid-19 cases, 114 recoveries
78,408 recoveries observed
Covid-19 active cases sit at 1,682
Maldives has confirmed a total of 80,328 coronavirus cases thus far

By sundown on Wednesday, Maldives confirmed 110 new Covid-19 cases alongside 114 recoveries.

Latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal that the new infections were confirmed through 5,569 samples collected between 6pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday.

76 of the cases were detected in outlying atolls, whereas 27 were confirmed in the Greater Malé Region with four of the remaining cases confirmed in operational resorts and three from liveabaord vessels.

This means that the country's active coronavirus case count has dropped to 1,682 from the previous day's 1,687.

The country's Covid-19 case tally has been pushed to 80,328, with the total number of recoveries observed so far sitting at 78,408.

With two more Covid-19 patients having been released from hospitals over the past 24 hours, hospital admissions have dropped to 13. Maldives has confirmed 225 deaths from Covid-19, with the latest three reported this week.0

The Covid-19 caseload began spiking in the beginning of May once again when a fourth and more infectious wave was confirmed.

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. Authorities have since announced a number of additional eases including allowing offices to resume normal operations, as well as food outlets.

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.

Further, from September, restrictions announced for unvaccinated people will come into effect including a ban on public transport as well as on dining in restaurants and cafes. There are talks of a ban on domestic air travel as well. Unvaccinated civil servants will have to take a Covid-19 test regularly to be allowed inside the office premises.

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

- comment