Maldives reports over 1,000 new Covid-19 cases, five fatalities

Five more Covid-19 fatalities have been reported within the past week.

This was revealed by the Health Protection Agency ((HPA) in its latest figures publicized on Monday.

As such, the five more Covid-19 fatalities reported between June 19 – 25, have pushed the country’s coronavirus death toll to 305.

Statistics revealed that between June 19 – 25, an alarming total of 1,202 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed nationwide, including 528 from the congested capital, Greater Malé Area, 452 from residential islands outside of the capital and 222 reported from others including industrial islands, liveaboard vessels and resorts.

HPA went on to reveal that the new hospital admissions recorded over the past week stood at 51.

With this development, the Maldives Covid-19 case tally has risen to 181,586.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020.

Over the past week, cases rose up to 237 on Wednesday and the remained over 100 the rest of the week.

More infections were confirmed from the capital than in industrial islands, liveaboard vessels, resorts and outlying atolls last week, with more than 100 being reported on Wednesday alone.

HPA went on to reveal that while just three hospital admissions were recorded between March 30 – April 2, it has gradually been increasing. It dropped to one in the first week of May and rose up to 17 between June 12 and 18.

The number of hospital admissions has hiked alarmingly since, having risen to 51 between June 19 – 25.

As for weekly cases which have also been gradually increasing over the past months, 120 new cases were confirmed in the first week of May. 77 new cases were confirmed in the week that followed. HPA confirmed 102 new infections from May 15 – 21 and 91 from May 22 – 28.

84 new cases were reported between May 29 – June 4. This number rose to 142 between June 5 – 11 and hiked to 405 in the week that followed. The past week saw a record high of over 1,000 cases, the highest figure reported in recent months.

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, was also dissolved. However, with the recent rise in cases the authority has once again urged to start using face masks, with HPA urging caution from the public, against a recent rise in Covid-19 cases.

HPA has urged the public to be more vigilant in observing safety precautions, isolate themselves and undergo Covid-19 testing if they exhibit symptoms.

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.

As places that provide healthcare services are usually filled with high-risk individuals, HPA has urged the people to wear face masks when visiting hospitals health centers and clinics for the safety of everyone. The public health authority has also urged the people to limit hospital visitations and not visit hospitals unless necessary.

HPA has also urged those who exhibit Covid-19 symptoms, to use face masks, isolate themselves as soon as they detect the symptoms and get tested.

The public has also been urged to keep public and open spaces clean and disinfected at all times, on a regular basis.

Stressing on the importance of regular sanitization and hand-washing, HPA also urged the public to get their vaccine doses against Covid-19 as well as influenza.

Urging travelers to ensure the Covid-19 situation in their travel destinations is controlled, HPA revealed that travelers must take the necessary precautions before making their bookings and ensure they are fully vaccinated before travelling.

The public health authority also urged the public to refrain from hosting and attending large gatherings, unless completely necessary. Organizers have been urged to stick to the guidelines and safety precautions in place when planning events.

Authorities have not yet revealed any plans to officially implement stricter measures against the rise in Covid-19 cases.