Maldives Covid-19 case tally surpasses 86,000-mark

Maldives Covid-19 case tally has exceeded the 86,000-mark.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 111 new coronavirus cases and 68 recoveries were reported between 6pm Friday and 6pm Saturday, nationwide.

Out of the 4,614 samples tested in the reporting period, 84 returned positive from residential islands outside of Malé City, 14 samples collected from operational resorts tested positive and 13 tested positive from the Greater Malé Region.

Saturday’s new coronavirus cases have pushed the Maldives Covid-19 case tally to 86,088.

Active cases rose to 1,251 from the previous day’s 1,208 with this development.

With the additional recoveries, the total number of recoveries observed nationwide has risen to 84,587.

One more Covid-19 patient was hospitalized for treatment, with which the number of patients receiving in-hospital treatment has risen to 17.

Over the past week, recoveries outnumbered new cases reported. As such, while 623 new cases were confirmed between October 10 – 16, recoveries detected were at 633. The highest daily rise in cases was reported on Saturday, with cases falling as low as 45 the previous day.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020 and since then, the death toll has risen to 238. The latest victim was reported on Sunday morning, when an 80-year-old local man receiving treatment at Hulhumalé Medical Facility succumbed to the virus. This is the seventh Covid-19 fatality to have been confirmed this ongoing month.

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 continues to practice caution as the pandemic is far from being controlled, despite declining numbers in recent months. For over a month, the country has been free from further restrictions in the face of the pandemic, however, the authorities continue to remind the public to be vigilant as the country heads down the road to full recovery from the impacts of Covid-19. Although life is far from reaching normal yet, the government's resilience to vaccinate the entire nation has revived hopes of eases from further burden, in the new normal.

The country has been in a state of public health emergency for over a year, since 12 March 2020. It was extended a 19th time to expire on October 31.