Maldives reported 106 new Covid-19 cases as well as 138 recoveries by sundown on Saturday.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the new infections were confirmed through 5,589 samples tested for the virus.

Between 6pm Friday and 6pm Saturday, 60 new cases were detected from outlying atolls, 34 from the Maldives populous capital Malé City, 11 from operational resorts and one from a liveaboard vessel.

While Maldives confirmed its first coronavirus cases from a resort on 7 March 2020, the case tally currently sits at 82,684.

The additional recoveries reported over the past 24 hours has pushed the country’s total number of recoveries from the infection to 80,374.

Maldives currently has 2,070 active coronavirus cases, which is a decline from the previous day’s 2,102.

Over the past 24 hours, six Covid-19 patients were hospitalized for further treatment, with which hospital admissions have risen to 18.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020. Since then, the death toll has been pushed to 227.

While over 1,000 weekly cases were reported the past week, the number dropped to 874 by the end of this week. The highest daily spike in cases was confirmed on Sunday, when 169 cases were reported. The lowest figure was reported on Wednesday, at 100. Cases reported over the past week remained above 100.

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 on a daily basis. 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 to expire on October 1.