109 people tested positive for the Covid-19 in the Maldives on Saturday, bringing the Maldives' total Covid-19 tally up to 16,656 with 2,039 active cases.

Saturday's 109 new cases were reported from the 3,220 samples tested for the infection by authorities between 6pm Friday and 6pm Saturday. Of these cases, 78 were reported from the capital of Male', where the number of new cases have been worryingly high in recent weeks, while 11 were from inhabited islands and 20 from operational resorts.

An additional 84 recoveries from the infection were reported on Saturday, bringing the number of total Covid-19 recoveries observed in the island nation up to 14,556.

The number of Covid-19 hospitalizations reported increased by 14 between sundown on Friday and sundown on Saturday, with which a total of 207 people in the Maldives are receiving in-hospital care for the infection. 54 people have died from Covid-19 related health complications in the country thus far, two of whom passed away in the on-going month of February.

According to the vaccination update publicized by the Health Ministry, an additional 2,575 persons were vaccinated against the Covid-19 infection by Sunday evening. 2,015 persons received doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from vaccination centers across the Male' Area, and 560 persons were inoculated in vaccination centers set up across different atolls. Health authorities continue with the initiative to vaccinate those above the age of 55 against the infection as the elderly are presented to more risk of complications from the virus.

With this, as of sunset on Saturday, a total of 6,854 persons have been vaccinated against the Covid-19 infection in the Maldives. This means that, operating on the latest population projections for the Maldives as presented by the World Bank and the UN, approximately one in every 100 persons in the country has been inoculated against Covid-19 over the past week.

While a majority of new cases of the infection are still being detected from the capital region, authorities have imposed a curfew and a vehicle movement restriction in the city for a period of two weeks. These measures, which proved effective in controlling the spread of the pandemic in December last year, are to be revised after a two-week period, depending on their effectiveness in controlling the spread of the virus.

Beginning Sunday, a nationwide mask-mandate has come into effect across all inhabited islands of the country, with authorities having warned that they will not hesitate to take action against those who fail to comply with the Covid-19 health and safety measures being enacted. The Health Protection Agency has urged all to be cautious in following health and safety regulations, and has encouraged the public to engage in voluntary sampling in order to identify one's individual status and protect others who could be at greater risk for complications from the virus.