Maldives has confirmed 1,955 new Covid-19 cases alongside 1,633 additional recoveries.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 5,469 samples were tested for the infection between 6pm Thursday and 6pm Friday, of which 599 returned positive from the congested capital, 875 across residential islands outside of the capital and 78 from operational resorts.

2,244 samples were collected across the capital in the reporting period, where the Covid-19 positivity rate currently sits at 27 percent.

HPA revealed that the location of 403 cases confirmed by sundown on Friday, is yet to be determined.

With this development, Maldives Covid-19 case tally has risen to 146,991.

Further, the total number of patients who have recovered from the virus across the country has also been pushed to 128,963.

By sundown on Friday, active Covid-19 cases across Maldives escalated to 17,735 from 17,413.

Hospital admissions dropped to 56 in the reporting period with the release of four patients.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020, 18 Covid-19 fatalities have been confirmed so far this year. The total number of deaths confirmed across the island nation sits at 280.

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. Due to this, HPA recently tightened safety measures across the Greater Malé Region.

However, on Tuesday the public health authority eased measures for direct contacts of positive cases across the capital. As such, fully vaccinated direct contacts of Covid-19 positive cases will no longer be required to undergo a quarantine period, if they do not exhibit symptoms.

As such, those who have been fully vaccinated among those identified as direct contacts of positive cases, will not be required to undergo a quarantine period if they do not show symptoms, from Wednesday onwards.

Further, those who have been fully vaccinated among those identified as direct contacts of positive cases and do exhibit symptoms, will be required to undergo Antigen or PCR testing and will not be required to quarantine if their test results return negative for the novel coronavirus. However, they will be required to quarantine until their test results are obtained. These individuals will be required to undergo PCR testing after five days of coming into contact with a covid-stricken individual.

The public health authority went on to reveal that individuals may only use the Covid-19 rapid antigen self-test kits if they have symptoms and should they test positive, they will be required to follow the steps mentioned in the publication.

The isolation period or quarantine period of these individuals will only be documented by the authority if they undergo Covid-19 testing at a registered laboratory or healthcare facility.

The public has been urged to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines in place, in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The country has been in a state of public health emergency for nearly two years now, since 12 March 2020. The last extension is set to expire on February 28.