Maldives reports over 100 new Covid cases a day after lowest daily increase in weeks

Maldives reported over a 100 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, a day after the lowest daily count in weeks.

While 66 new cases were confirmed the previous day, a total of 143 cases were reported on Wednesday; this is from the 1,199 samples tested within 24 hours.

The cases announced on Wednesday include 87 locals, 40 Bangladeshis, 10 Indians, three Nepalese nationals, two Sri Lankans and an Egyptian national.

This pushes the country's Covid-19 total to 5,366. And while a total of 2,884 patients have recovered thus far, there are currently 2,461 active cases of the coronavirus in the island nation. 150 patients are receiving treatment at hospitals.

While the country reported its first death from Covid-19 on April 29, a total of 21 patients succumbed to the virus by Wednesday.

Health officials have expressed concern over the increase in patients requiring treatment at hospitals, as well as over the “increasing trend in infections in the elderly age group.” They have also revealed a spike in cases with no links to previously confirmed patients.

While the country’s first few cases were detected from resort islands in March, a community transmission was confirmed in capital Malé City in mid-April. This led to an immediate lockdown in the city, which authorities began easing on May 29. The country entered the third phase of the ease plan in July, which allowed reopening of borders as well as allowed public gatherings and dine-in services at restaurants, and this also led to a surge in cases, especially among locals.

This prompted authorities to reintroduce a curfew in the capital last week, with special procedures for travelling to and from the city.

Some tourists have tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Maldives since borders were reopened on July 15, while cases from residential islands increased as well. As such, there are active cases in nine resorts while cases have been detected in 13 inhabited islands.

The Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) announced plans to strengthen its work to control the virus, at Wednesday night’s Covid-19 press briefing.