Maldives continues to see gradual decline in new Covid-19 infections

Maldives has confirmed a total of 13,326 new coronavirus infections with the 18 new cases reported on Friday.

While the cases were from the 2,358 samples tested within 24 hours, 16 of the cases were confirmed from capital Male’ region and one, each, from a residential island and an operational resort.

With 19 new recoveries reported on Friday, a total of 12,640 patients have recovered thus far.

There are currently 631 active Covid-19 cases in the country; 529 are in the Male’ region, 35 in outlying islands, 45 in tourist establishments, 21 in islands under development and one in an industrial island.

Also, an additional coronavirus-related death was reported on Friday, bringing the death toll to 48; a 69-year-old local man passed away in the morning while receiving treatment at Dharumavantha Hospital.

60 patients are receiving treatment at hospitals, six less than the previous day.

Among the 13,326 coronavirus cases confirmed since March 7, 63.09 percent are locals. 24.54 percent of the cases are Bangladeshi nationals; the largest migrant worker group in the country.

While Maldives' first Covid-19 cases were confirmed from a resort in March, a community transmission was detected on April 15. This led to a complete lockdown in the capital, as well as a partial lockdown across the country with travel between islands banned.

Lockdown easing began in late May, and there was a second surge in cases after the island nation entered the third phase in mid-July. However, there has been a gradual decline in cases since September.

While the highest daily rise in December thus far was reported on the sixth, 39 cases, the highest daily increase in months was announced on November 23; 150 new infections.