With more than 600 new Covid-19 cases, Maldives Covid-19 case tally has been pushed to 177,658.

Over the past week, the Health Protection Agency ((HPA) reported 665 new Covid-19 infections including 481 detected from residential islands outside of the congested capital Greater Malé Area, where 72 new cases were confirmed.

In its latest figures disclosed on Monday, HPA revealed that between March 27 – April 2, the caseload had decreased significantly, while over 1,000 new infections were reported the week before.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020. The country’s death toll from coronavirus currently sits at 298. No new fatalities were reported in the past week.

Looking at the daily case:

103 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed on March 27; 14 from the capital and 69 from the atolls

125 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed on March 28; 10 from the capital and 100 from the atolls

144 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed on March 29; 18 from the capital and 114 from the atolls

73 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed on March 30; 13 from the capital and 52 from the atolls

83 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed on March 31; seven from the capital and 64 from the atolls

97 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed on April 1; six from the capital and 64 from the atolls

40 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed on April 2; four from the capital and 18 from the atolls

While the sample positivity rate across the nation rose up to 36 percent in the beginning of February after being maintained at four percent in December 2021, it has since been declining and sat at 11 percent between March 16 – 22.

Sample positivity in the capital region hiked to 45 percent between January 26 – February 1, when Maldives was immersed in an overwhelming outbreak of the Omicron variant. However, it has since dropped to below five percent.

In inhabited islands, the sample positivity rate remains well above average.

HPA went on to reveal that the sample collection centers in Dharubaaruge in the capital and Hulhumalé Ruhgandu Area have been closed from Monday. However, samples will be collected from Hulhumalé Hospital and PCR samples will be taken from 9pm to 11pm every Saturday to Sunday at Senahiya. Except for Fridays, PCR samples will be collected at Hulhumalé Hospital via appointment every day from 10am to 12pm.

The state of public health emergency declared nationwide on 12 March 2020, was dissolved starting 13 March 2022.

HPA announced a number of measures to tighten health and safety restrictions in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 across the island nation earlier in March.

As such, the face mask mandate that came into effect across the Maldives in February 2021, has also been dissolved. The move also coincided with the start of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Although face masks are no longer mandatory, the public will be required to continue the use of face masks where healthcare services are being provided, including staff, patients and visitors.

Further, the residents of islands or regions where the Covid-19 positivity rate is higher than 20 percent, are still required to use face masks.

The public health authority went on to encourage the public to continue the use of face masks if they are considered high risk or have high risk individuals in their circle, when out in public, if they exhibit symptoms, if they attend gatherings or events with large crowds of people, while using public transport vehicles like taxis, busses and ferries as well as while attending indoor activities and other places where public services are provided.

The changes were brought following thorough analysis and monitoring the situation revolving around the pandemic, currently.

As such, some of the key points taken into consideration when revoking the state of public health emergency, a little over two years since it was imposed, include the fact that the Covid-19 situation in most islands and regions is improving as well as the success in maintaining hospitalization and death rates at a lower rate.

Further, HPA revealed that a majority of the population have completed the first two doses of the vaccination, as booster dose administration continues to increase.

It was also revealed that Covid-19 response will continue according to the ‘Covid-19 Strategy’, and measures will be taken according to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, even though the public health emergency has been revoked.

Further, inbound travelers can now enter Maldives without presenting negative PCR certification and travelers are no longer required to present PCR test results, even if they haven’t completed the Covid-19 vaccination.

Another restriction that was eased starting 13 March 2022, is revoking the mandatory quarantine period for inbound travelers, even if they are not fully vaccinated.

Despite these eases, testing of symptomatic persons, isolation of positive persons and quarantine for contacts of positive persons will continue.

This comes at a time Maldives recently went through an overwhelming peak of Covid-19, following the celebrations to bring in the new year.