Maldives Covid-19 case tally has surpassed the 98,000-mark.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 384 new Covid-19 cases and 173 additional recoveries were confirmed across the archipelago nation between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday.

By sundown on Sunday, public health authorities tested a total of 3,730 samples for the infection, of which 153 returned positive from the Greater Malé Region, 102 from residential islands outside the capital, 117 from operational resorts and one from a liveaboard vessel.

In the reporting period, Maldives Covid-19 case tally rose to 98,052.

HPA went on to reveal that the location of 10 cases from Sunday remain undetermined.

Of the over 3,000 samples, 1,337 samples were tested across the capital, where the Covid-19 positivity rate surged to 11 percent by sundown on Sunday.

With this development, the active coronavirus case count across the archipelago nation has risen to 3,511 from the previous day’s 3,300.

With the additional recoveries reported, the total number of patients who have recovered from the virus so far across the nation has been pushed to 94,264.

In the reporting period, three patients were hospitalized for treatment, meaning 18 are currently receiving in-hospital treatment.

Although Maldives had maintained the Covid-19 caseload at low daily figures across the capital region in recent months, cases across the capital have been spiking recently. The caseload across the capital has been spiking since New Year’s. As such, it has been a week since Maldives has been confirming more than 200 daily infections. Due to this, HPA on Sunday tightened safety measures across the Greater Malé Region, effective Monday.

As such, gatherings, events and parties with more than 50 persons are disallowed, with those hosting such gatherings cautioned to follow the guidelines set by the authority. In addition, night and city markets have been prohibited, with sports activities closed off to the public as well. In addition to this, those traveling from the capital region will be required to present negative PCR certification valid 72 hours prior if they have passed 14 days since completing both doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Further, those who have not completed their vaccine shots will be required to undergo a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days and will only be released upon a negative PCR result.

HPA stated that those who travel to islands from the capital in the next two days have the options to take a sample, travel and stay in quarantine until their results are obtained or to travel and stay in quarantine until tests are done and results are obtained.

The public health authority announced that sample collection centers will be open at Thaajuddeen School, Villimalé and FAM building from Monday onwards.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020 and since then, the death toll has risen to 264. Two Covid-19 fatalities have been confirmed so far in January 2022.

Maldives confirmed the first case of the new, more transmissible variant of Covid-19, ‘Omicron’ on 5 December 2021. Since then, the public health authority has revealed that more cases have been surfacing.

The public health authority urged caution over the confirmation of ‘Omicron’ in the Maldives, pushing the public to take the necessary precautions for their safety and for the safety of others and to pay special heed to the instructions and guidelines set forth by the authorities.

HPA stressed on the importance of adhering to safety measures to avoid another Covid-19 wave from hitting the Maldives and urged the public to provide their full support and cooperation in helping authorities curb the spread of the infection.

Research indicates that those who have recovered from Covid-19 are at a high risk of contracting the new variant, dubbed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO).

At a time the caseload has been spiking, the island nation recently celebrated the New Year, where large groups of people thronged the capital’s suburbs and other regions to welcome the new year. It is to be noted that the caseload hiked following the New Year last year as well.

The public has been urged to get vaccinated, adhere to guidelines set place in hosting events and gatherings and even in the work environment to prevent the risk of widespread infection.

The country has been in a state of public health emergency for nearly two years now, since 12 March 2020. It was extended a 22nd time to expire on January 29.