A 64-year-old Maldivian woman has succumbed to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed on Monday, that the woman passed away while receiving treatment at the Hulhumalé Medical Facility, at 5:36pm.

This is the 23rd death from Covid-19 in the Maldives.

The island nation saw a surge in Covid-19 cases after the government began the third phase of lockdown easing, in July.

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” and increase in cases with no links to previously confirmed cases.