Weekly Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions continue to drop across the Maldives.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) in its latest figures publicized on Monday, revealed that 68 new infections were detected between August 28 – September 3.

Within this period, just one new hospital admission was recorded.

The new cases confirmed over the past week include 16 from the Greater Malé Region, 27 from residential islands outside of the capital and 25 reported from others including industrial islands, liveaboard vessels and resorts.

With this development, Maldives Covid-19 case tally has risen to 184,924.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020. The country’s coronavirus death toll currently sits at 308. No new fatalities were confirmed over the past week.

Statistics reveal that although an alarming spike in infections was observed near the end of June, the number had begun decreasing by mid-July.

HPA went on to reveal that while just three hospital admissions were recorded between March 30 – April 2, it began to gradually increase in the next few weeks. The numbers dropped to one in the first week of May and rose up to 17 between June 12 and 18. However, hospital admissions began dropping since mid-July.

The number of hospital admissions hiked alarmingly and rose to 51 between June 19 – 25. The next week saw 54 hospital admissions.

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.

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. These measures are to be followed even if the caseload has been decreasing over recent weeks.

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.

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

Recently, due to the adverse affects of the monsoon season, Maldives has been experiencing a surge in common cold cases as well. Hence, it is important to follow safety precautions. 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.