Maldives has confirmed the lowest daily rise in Covid-19 cases in weeks, with 61 new infections confirmed by sundown on Friday.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the new cases were confirmed through 3,674 samples collected for testing between 6pm Thursday and 6pm Friday.

Friday’s new cases included 29 across the country’s congested capital Malé City, 24 from residential islands outside of the capital and the remaining eight from operational resorts.

An additional 101 recoveries were also confirmed by sundown on Friday, with which the total number of recoveries Maldives has confirmed so far has risen to 82,309.

Maldives total coronavirus case count has been pushed to 84,164 with this development.

HPA reported a drop in active coronavirus cases nationwide over the past 24 hours. As such the island nation currently has 1,612 active cases.

With two more Covid-19 patients released from hospitals over the past 24 hours, hospital admissions have dropped to 16.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020. Since then, the death toll has been pushed to 230. The latest fatality was confirmed early Friday, when a 46-year-old Maldivian woman being treated at Hulhumalé Medical Facility (HMF) succumbed to the virus.

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.