Maldives Covid-19 case tally surpasses 88,000-mark

Maldives total Covid-19 case count has surpassed the 88,000-mark.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 143 new coronavirus infections and 119 recoveries were reported between 6pm Monday and 6pm Tuesday.

HPA confirmed the new cases through 3,790 samples collected for testing in the reporting period.

117 samples returned positive from residential islands outside of the congested capital, Greater Malé Region where 23 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday. Three Covid-19 cases were detected from an operational resort as well.

By sundown on Tuesday, active cases across the nation rose to 1,860 from the previous day’s 1,836.

The additional recoveries confirmed have pushed the total number of recoveries confirmed nationwide to 85,942, with the country’s case tally rising to 88,058.

One patient was hospitalized for treatment in the reporting period, with which hospital admissions have risen to 30.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020 and since then, the death toll has risen to 243. The latest victim was reported when an 81-year-old woman died from complications while receiving treatment at the Addu Covid Management Facility. 12 Covid-19 deaths were confirmed in October.

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 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.

The country has been in a state of public health emergency for over a year, since 12 March 2020. It has been extended a 20th time to expire on November 30.