K. Male'
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16 Sep 2021 | Thu 00:54
Samples being collected for Covid-19 testing
Samples being collected for Covid-19 testing
RaajjeMV
Covid-19 community transmission
Maldives reports lowest daily rise Covid-19 cases, in weeks
Maldives had 1,832 active coronavirus cases by sundown on Wednesday
The new cases were confirmed from the 5,526 samples tested for the virus
141 additional recoveries were also reported

Maldives has reported the lowest daily rise in Covid-19 cases, in weeks.

According to latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), of 5,526 samples tested for coronavirus between 6pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday, 92 returned positive. Of these, 51 were confirmed from outlying atolls, 38 from the Greater Malé Region and three from an operational resort.

Further HPA confirmed 141 additional recoveries from coronavirus over the past 24 hours, with which the total number of recoveries currently sits at 81,090.

With this development, Maldives total Covid-19 case count has risen to 83,162.

Maldives currently has 1,832 active coronavirus cases, which is a drop from the previous day’s 1,881.

By sundown on Tuesday, hospital admissions had been pushed to 21, with three more patients hospitalized for treatment.

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.

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