Another 157 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the Maldives on Sunday, with 103 of those cases being confirmed from the Greater Male' Region as authorities struggle to control the pandemic's third wave.
Sunday's 157 new cases were confirmed from 4,353 samples tested for the infection by authorities between 6pm Saturday and 6pm Sunday. Of this, 103 new cases were detected from the nation's capital of Male', 20 cases from inhabited islands and 34 cases from operational resorts. As of now, a total of 18,769 people have tested positive for the Covid-19 infection in Maldives, 2,506 of which remain active cases.
By sundown on Sunday, a total of 162 people were admitted in hospital for treatment of Covid-19, including three people who remain in ICU and one person receiving care on a ventilator.
12 people have died in the Maldives from Covid-19 and related health complications this year alone, with the most recent two deaths confirmed on Saturday. The island nation's Covid-19 death toll now stands at 60.
A total of 135 new recoveries from Covid-19 were reported in the country between Saturday and Sunday, bringing the total number of all those who recovered from Covid-19 in the Maldives thus far up tp 16,196.
Speaking at the press conference held on Sunday night, Spokesperson for the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed that six people were currently being treated for Covid-19 on the 16th floor of Dharumavantha Hospital, in addition to 149 persons being treated for the infection at the Hulhumale' medical facility. She also added that a total of 223 positive cases had been identified from 43 outlying islands, and that three people had thus far been admitted at Covid-management facilities established across atolls.
At Sunday's press conference, Dr. Nazla went on to note that the number of positive cases of Covid-19 being reported from resorts were once again on the rise. She detailed that an outbreak of the infection had been recorded at LUX*South Ari Atoll Resort, from where a total of 37 persons had tested positive for Covid-19 by the end of Sunday.
In addition to this, Dr. Nazla confirmed that six persons had tested positive from the Cocoon Maldives Resort, with which a total of 45 people have now contracted Covid-19 from the island. Addu City, Fuvahmulah City and M. Kolhufushi are currently under monitoring as restrictions are ramped up to curb the spread of Covid-19 nationwide.
The Covid-19 situation in Addu City has also continued to worsen, with five more positive cases on Sunday pushing the city's total Covid-19 tally up to 69, including 43 active cases. An additional 364 persons have been identified as direct contacts of positive cases from Addu City, with 194 homes placed under quarantine.
While a curfew and vehicle movement restriction order has been put into effect in Male', health authorities have expressed concern that they do not seem to be effective in reducing the caseload in the congested city. Dr. Nazla confirmed that while the number of new cases being detected remained stable, they had also not decreased. She also said it would take around two or three more weeks before the ease in caseload brought about by stronger restrictions could be observed.
Health authorities have been closely monitoring the state of Covid-19 across the islands of Maldives, and have been holding discussions in relation to what further steps can be taken in order to control the spread of the virus.
