Maldives confirms 535 new Covid-19 cases; 448 from atolls

Maldives confirmed 535 new Covid-19 cases by sundown on Thursday.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 535 new Covid-19 cases and 479 additional recoveries were reported between 6pm Wednesday and 6pm Thursday.

The public health authority revealed that 2,231 samples were tested in the reporting period, of which 488 were collected across the capital.

The new cases confirmed by sundown on Thursday include 42 detected from the Greater Malé Region, 448 from residential islands outside of the capital region and 34 from operational resorts as well.

The location of 11 cases confirmed on Thursday is yet to be determined.

With this development, active Covid-19 cases across Maldives have risen to 14,887 from 14,831.

Maldives Covid-19 case tally has been pushed to 171,649, with the total number of recoveries confirmed across the archipelago nation had been pushed to 156,452.

Hospital admissions remain unchanged from the previous day at 10.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020. The total number of deaths confirmed across the island nation sits at 297.

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 March 30.

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for the number of people allowed to take part in gatherings and attend events as well as ceremonies in the capital, has been revoked.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from being present at sports events in the capital due to an alarming spike in Covid-19 infections, it has since been revoked.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.