110 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Maldives on Wednesday, with an additional 106 recoveries from the infection observed across the island nation.
Health authorities tested a total of 2,803 samples for the infection between Tuesday and Wednesday, of which 84 samples tested positive from the Greater Male' area. A further two new cases were reported from inhabited islands, along with 24 new cases detected from operational resorts.
With this, the Maldives' total Covid-19 case tally is now 21,144, of which 2,539 are presently active cases. By sundown on Wednesday, 165 remain admitted in hospitals for Covid-19 treatment across the country.
A further 106 recoveries were observed from the infection on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recoveries observed for the infection in the Maldives up to 18,534.
Last week, authorities confirmed the 64th death from Covid-19 in the Maldives, and extended the state of public health emergency across the country for an additional month. Most of those who have passed away after contracting the infection in Maldives are elderly persons, and health workers have raised the alarm of overburdened facilities as the nation battles a deadly third wave of the pandemic.
Covid-19 health and safety restrictions are being strengthened across the Maldives in order to control transmission of the virus. Malé City residents are now required to provide negative PCR results with a sample taken 72 hours prior to traveling to island, with special permission required for essential travel.
As most of the daily new cases of Covid-19 reported in the country are from the capital city, the curfew and vehicle movement restriction order in Male' City continue to be in effect, with strict implementation on behalf of authorities.
HPA statistics also show that the flu positivity rate has gone down despite the increase in cases, especially from the capital region, which means that fewer people are attending flu clinics despite presenting symptoms of Covid-19. Health authorities have warned that they may have to begin "choosing" Covid-19 patients for treatment if the caseload continues to increase, and have requested public support in controlling the spread of the virus to prevent further fatalities.