47 out of 82 new Covid-19 cases detected from outlying atolls
81,671 recoveries have been confirmed so far, with 127 more recoveries reported on Sunday
4,698 samples were testing in the reporting period
47 out of the 82 new Covid-19 cases confirmed across the Maldives, were detected from outlying atolls.
According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 4,698 samples were tested for coronavirus between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday, out of which 47 returned positive from outlying atolls, 29 from the congested capital of the country and the remaining six were from operational resorts.
With this development the country’s case tally has topped 83,576.
81,671 recoveries have been confirmed so far, with 127 more recoveries reported on Sunday.
Over the past 24 hours, the country’s active coronavirus case count dropped to 1,663 from the previous day’s 1,708.
Hospital admissions have dropped to 21, with two more patients having been released from hospitals over the past 24 hours.
Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020. Since then, the death toll has been pushed to 229, with the latest deaths reported over the past 24 hours, when an 89-year-old Maldivian man succumbed to virus complications while being treated at the Covid Management Facility in Gaaf Dhaal atoll, followed by the death of an 87-year-old local male.
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 has since 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.
