Covid-19: Maldives reports 50 new cases, additional death

Maldives reported 50 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, raising the total infections in the country since the outbreak of the pandemic to 12,204.

21 of the cases are from the greater Malé region while 29 are from other islands or resorts, and includes mostly foreigners. The cases announced on Sunday include 19 locals and 31 foreigners.

Also, an additional coronavirus-related death was reported on Monday, bringing the death toll to 44; a 52-year-old local man passed away late Sunday night while receiving treatment at the Hulhumalé Medical Facility.

Further, 27 recoveries were reported bringing total recoveries to 11,289.

There are 865 active Covid-19 cases in the island nation, including in 10 residential islands and 26 resorts.

47 patients are receiving treatment at hospitals, two less than the previous day.

With the start of the third phase of lockdown easing on July 1, there was a surge in Covid-19 infections with over 100 new cases reported almost daily. However, the country saw a gradual decline in cases starting September, and cases have remained below 100 for weeks now. Sunday’s numbers are the highest daily increase in days.

While the country’s first Covid-19 cases were detected from resorts in March, a community spread was confirmed on April 15 and a lockdown was announced in the capital region as well as a partial lockdown across country with travel between islands banned.

Lockdown easing began on May 29, which led to a spike in cases by the time the country entered the third phase, prompting authorities to strengthen Covid-19 safety measures in the capital where a majority of the cases were confirmed.

As such, face masks were made compulsory in public from August 1 while a curfew was reintroduced a few days later.

However, with the gradual decrease in cases, authorities began easing safety rules including reducing curfew hours.