Maldives reports 139 new Covid-19 cases, 63 recoveries

Maldives confirmed 139 new Covid-19 casea alongside 63 additional recoveries on Saturday.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 96 new infections were confirmed from outlying atolls, 27 from the Maldives congested capital Malé City and the remaining 16 were detected in operational resorts.

These were from the 5,238 samples tested for the infection between 6pm Friday and 6pm Saturday.

With this development, the country’s coronavirus case tally has risen to 80,678, with active cases sitting at 1,683.

Further, the total number of recoveries observed so far nationwide has reached 78,757.

Hospital admissions remain unchanged from the previous day, at 11.

This past week, four Covid-19 fatalities were reported, pushing the country’s death toll from coronavirus to 226. The latest was confirmed on Saturday, when a 90-year-old Maldivian man succumbed to complications of the fatal infection.

Over the past week, 814 new cases were confirmed nationwide, of which the highest daily increase was recorded on Tuesday, at 151. The lowest Covid-19 cases were confirmed on Sunday, at 95. Recoveries reported nationwide this past week were lower than the new cases confirmed; 804.

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.