By sundown on Wednesday, the Covid-19 positivity rate across the capital had dropped to five percent.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 971 new Covid-19 cases and 310 recoveries were confirmed between 6pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday.

With this development, Maldives Covid-19 case tally has been pushed to 167,496.

A total of 4,106 samples were tested for the infection in the reporting period, of which 846 were collected across the capital where the Covid-19 positivity rate currently sits at five percent.

Wednesday’s Covid-19 cases include 45 detected from the Greater Malé Region, 862 from residential islands and 43 from operational resorts.

By sundown on Wednesday, active Covid-19 cases across Maldives had risen to 15,871 from the previous day’s 15,211.

HPA revealed that the total number of recoveries confirmed across the archipelago nation thus far has been pushed to 151,319.

Four more patients were hospitalized in the reporting period, with which hospital admissions have risen to 29.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020. The total number of deaths confirmed across the island nation sits at 294.

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.

Although Maldives had maintained the Covid-19 caseload at low daily figures across the capital region nearing the end of 2021, cases across the capital had spiked in the beginning of the year. Due to this, HPA tightened safety measures across the Greater Malé Region. However, the caseload has been decreasing in recent days.

On February 22, HPA dissolved the regulation mandating PCR testing for those travelling to islands from the capital, amending the guidelines publicized on January 9.

As such, HPA revealed that the changes include dissolving the regulation that mandated PCR test results valid 72 hours prior, when traveling to residential islands from the capital Malé City.

Further, HPA revealed that the limit for the number of people allowed to take part in gatherings and attend events as well as ceremonies in the capital, has been revoked.

While HPA also banned spectators from being present at sports events in the capital due to an alarming spike in Covid-19 infections, it has since been revoked.

However, the public has been urged to continue holding events and other such activities in adherence to the recommendations and instructions in place for the safety of the people.

PCR testing was made mandatory for travelers from the capital to atolls in January, when Maldives was immersed in an escalating outbreak of the virus.

This saw queues at PCR testing centers overcrowded and congested with several people remaining in the queue for hours on end to get their tests done.