Maldives reports 165 new Covid-19 cases among 5,438 tested samples

Maldives reported 165 new coronavirus cases among 5,438 samples collected between 6pm Monday and 6pm Tuesday.

This pushes the country’s Covid-19 case tally to 82,264.

Of the over 100 cases reported for the 16th consecutive day, 51 were from the Covid-19 epicenter of the Maldives, Greater Malé Region, 103 from outlying atolls and 11 from operational resorts.

Furthermore, Maldives currently has 2,117 active cases with 112 full recoveries reported in the past 24 hours. 16 individuals remain in the hospital for remedy of the deadly virus.

With the new recoveries, Maldives’ total recovery figure sits at 79,907.

The country has so far, suffered 227 fatalities, the latest one, which was also the first one of September, was reported on Monday, when a 90-year-old Maldivian man succumbed to complications of the virus while being treated at the Hulhumalé Medical Facility (HMF).

Daily case numbers being reported nationwide have been rising over the past few days. Over 1,000 new cases were confirmed over the past week alone.

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.

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.