Daily Covid-19 cases nationwide exceed 200 after months of reporting low numbers

Daily Covid-19 cases reported nationwide have spiked to 225, as Maldives confirmed lowest number of recoveries in weeks.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Saturday saw an alarming 225 new infections confirmed, most of which were detected across residential islands outside of the Maldives congested capital Malé City.

As such, out of the 4,527 samples tested for the virus between 6pm Friday and 6pm Saturday, 153 returned positive from residential islands, 39 from the capital and the remaining 33 new cases were confirmed from operational resorts.

With this development, the country’s total coronavirus case count has been pushed to 86,830.

Maldives total active coronavirus cases rose to 1,520 from the previous day’s 1,322, in the reporting period.

With the 27 recoveries reported, the total number of recoveries confirmed nationwide currently sits at 85,057.

Currently, there are 19 patients receiving in-hospital treatment, with one more hospitalized in the reporting period.

Over the past week, Maldives confirmed 742 new cases, of which the highest daily figure was reported on Saturday. The lowest number was confirmed on Monday, at 46. The daily infections reported in the past week outnumbered recoveries, which were recorded at 470.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020 and since then, the death toll has risen to 240. The latest victim was reported on October 21, when a 44-year-old local woman receiving treatment at Hulhumalé Medical Facility’s Intensive Care Unit succumbed to the virus. This is the ninth 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.