Over 100 daily Covid-19 cases reported for 22nd consecutive day

Maldives has confirmed over 100 daily Covid-19 infections for a 22nd consecutive day.

Latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal that out of 5,317 samples collected for testing between 6pm Sunday and 6pm Monday, 128 returned positive of which 69 were detected across outlying atolls, 45 from the capital, Greater Malé Region and 14 from operational resorts.

With this development, Maldives Covid-19 total case tally has topped 82,950.

Further, HPA also confirmed the highest number of daily recoveries to have been reported in weeks, on Monday, at 229.

By sundown on Monday, hospital admissions had risen to 19, with two more patients having been hospitalized for further treatment within the reporting period.

The country’s active coronavirus cases had dropped further to 1,936 from Sunday's 2,037.

The over 200 recoveries reported have pushed the country’s total number of recoveries from the infection to 80,774.

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

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 has since publicized a list of islands where the criteria for Covid-19 vaccination coverage conditions have been met.

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.

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.