22 out of 46 new Covid-19 cases detected from outlying atolls

22 out of 46 new Covid-19 cases detected from outlying atolls over the past 24 hours.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 46 new coronavirus infections and 91 recoveries were reported between 6pm Sunday and 6pm Monday.

These were out of 3,668 samples tested within the reporting period.

14 of the remaining cases were confirmed from the Maldives congested capital, Malé City, whereas nine cases were confirmed in operational resorts and one from a liveaboard vessel.

This means that Maldives Covid-19 case tally has been pushed to 86,211.

The country’s active coronavirus case count currently sits at 1,242 which is a slight decline from the previous day’s 1,287.

The recoveries reported on Sunday have pushed the total number of recoveries confirmed nationwide to 84,718.

Hospital admissions rose to 13 in the reporting period, with one more Covid-19 patient admitted for treatment.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020 and since then, the death toll has risen to 239. The latest victim was reported on October 18, when an 87-year-old local man receiving treatment at Addu Covid Management Facility succumbed to the virus. This is the eighth 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.