With surging daily numbers, Maldives Covid-19 case tally rises to 81,301

Maldives Covid-19 case tally has been pushed to 81,301.

Daily case numbers being reported nationwide have been rising over the past few days, with 189 new cases reported by sundown on Wednesday according to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Of the 5,768 samples tested between 6pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday, 119 returned positive from residential islands outside of the congested capital Malé City where 35 cases were confirmed. The remaining 35 were confirmed from operational resorts.

An additional 125 recoveries were also reported by sundown on Wednesday, with hospital admissions rising to 24, with two more admitted for Covid-19 treatment.

With this development, Maldives has observed a total of 79,268 recoveries from the infection so far, with active case being pushed to 1,794 from the previous day’s 1,730.

Last week, four Covid-19 fatalities were reported, pushing the country’s death toll from coronavirus to 226. Maldives confirmed its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020.

The geographical advantage of being comprised of a scatter of islands initially enabled Maldives to keep tabs on the spread of coronavirus when the first few cases surfaced. Things spiraled out of control after a community transmission was detected in the congested capital on 15 April 2020 to which authorities responded by imposing an immediate lockdown.

Months later, authorities began easing the lockdown in phases, with cases going on a downward spiral. Things seemed to be in control until the new year rolled around and cases began spiraling once more. Since April 2020, authorities have been repeating a cycle of curfews, lockdowns, partial lockdowns and other restrictive measures in their successful efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

Maldives was faced by a fourth and more infectious coronavirus wave in early May, with cases rising to alarming levels at 1,000. With the implementation of stricter measures, cases began declining once again, and authorities introduced further eases to restrictions in early July for the extensive government holidays.

Eases have been doubling with those that have completed both doses of Covid-19 vaccine allowed to travel domestically without the need to quarantine, with a negative PCR test result. HPA on Wednesday publicized a list of islands where the criteria for Covid-19 vaccination coverage conditions have been met.

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. They will be banned from 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 country has been in a state of public health emergency for over a year, since 12 March 2020. It was extended an 18th time on Wednesday, to expire on October 1.