121 people tested positive for Covid-19, with an additional 742 persons having been vaccinated against the infection in the Maldives as health and safety measures were tightened across the nation's capital on Wednesday.

102 new cases from Wednesday's 121 corresponded to cases discovered in the Greater Male' area, with four cases being reported from inhabited islands and 15 cases from operational resorts. With Wednesday's cases, the nation's total Covid-19 tally is now 16,276, of which 1,879 are active cases.

178 people were receiving in-hospital care for the infection on Wednesday, which is eight less than the previous day. Further, by 6pm Wednesday, an additional 74 recoveries from the virus were reported, bringing the number of total Covid-19 recoveries confirmed in the Maldives up to 14,337.

On Wednesday, a 70-year-old local man passed away while receiving treatment at Dharumavantha Hospital, the 53rd death from Covid-19 in the country.

While new cases of Covid-19 being discovered dropped below 100 for the first time in over a week on Tuesday, Wednesday saw the daily new cases count top 100 once more, with health authorities having tested 3,197 samples for the virus between 6pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday. A total of 420,675 samples have been tested for the infection in the country thus far.

In addition to this, the HPA's vaccination updates show that as of sundown on Wednesday, a total of 1,572 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Maldives across nine vaccination centers nationwide. 742 of this number were vaccinated between Tuesday and Wednesday, out of which 643 received their vaccine doses in six centers established within Male' City, with an additional 99 persons being vaccinated from the three vaccination centers in atolls.

As the number of new cases being reported from the Maldives' Covid-19 epicenter in Male' City continue to increase, authorities have strengthened health and safety measures across the capital in a bid to control the spread of the virus. A curfew was reintroduced in Male' on Wednesday night, effective between 11pm and 4:30am, as a vehicle movement restriction order was also implemented between 8:30pm and 4:30am. Shops, restaurants and cafe's were also closed in the city starting 10:30pm, in addition to a blanket ban on public gatherings and events, measures which are expected to last into the next two weeks as authorities evaluate their effectivity in preventing infections at this time.

A mask mandate will come into effect for all inhabited islands of the Maldives beginning 7 February. Authorities have warned that they will no longer be hesitating to take action against and fine those who violate the new health and safety measures.

The HEOC has advised all members of the public to be more vigilant in complying with Covid-19 safety protocols, by practicing strict sanitization and hygiene, in addition to observing social distancing and wearing masks effectively when out in public spaces.