Maldives confirms 628 new Covid-19 cases of which 501 were detected from residential islands outside of the congested capital region.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 628 new Covid-19 cases and 1,118 recoveries were confirmed between 6pm Wednesday and 6pm Thursday.

A total of 3,374 samples were tested for the infection in the reporting period, of which 715 were collected across the capital where the Covid-19 positivity rate currently sits at five percent.

Recent statistics released by the public health authority revealed that the sample positivity rate across the capital peaked between January 26 – February 1. As such, while it was at three percent at the end of 2021, the rate exceeded five percent between January 5 – 11, surging up to 45 percent between January 26 – February 1. Since then, the caseload has been decreasing gradually and had reached 10 percent by February 22.

Further, HPA revealed that the positivity rate across atolls was at seven percent by the end of 2021. It has been gradually increasing since, having spiked to 50 percent by February 22. The lowest the positivity rate was at in recent months was seven percent, between December 22 – 28.

The location of 38 cases confirmed by sundown on Thursday is yet to be determined.

Thursday’s Covid-19 cases include 40 detected from the Greater Malé Region, 501 from residential islands and 49 from operational resorts.

By sundown on Thursday, active Covid-19 cases across Maldives had dropped to 15,380 from the previous day’s 15,871.

With this development, Maldives Covid-19 case tally has been pushed to 168,124.

HPA revealed that the total number of recoveries confirmed across the archipelago nation thus far has been pushed to 152,437.

Six patients were released from the hospital in the reporting period, with which hospital admissions have dropped to 23.

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.