Covid-19: nearly 200 new infections detected on Thursday push Maldives case tally to 22,147

With nearly 200 new infections of the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic reported by sundown on Thursday, Maldives Covid-19 tally has risen to 22,147.

According to latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 186 new infections were detected nationwide out of the 4,688 samples tested for coronavirus from 6pm Wednesday to 6pm Thursday.

Out of this, 151 were detected in the Greater Malé Region, whereas 14 were discovered from residential islands and 20 from operational resorts. Further, health authorities detected one new case from a liveaboard vessel.

In addition, HPA reported 123 recoveries from the virus on Thursday, which means that a total of 19,642 patients have recovered from the virus in the island nation since the pandemic surfaced in the country over a year ago on March 7.

Maldives active coronavirus infections rose to 2,433 from 2,371 by sundown on Thursday, out of which 121 patients remain hospitalized for treatment, which is three patients more than the previous day.

The pandemic has claimed 65 lives in the Maldives thus far, the latest victim having been reported a little past 7pm on Thursday. As such, a 79-year-old local woman receiving treatment at Dharumavantha Hospital succumbed to complications after which authorities identified her as the 65th Covid-19 victim.

Public health authorities recently extended and implemented stricter measures across the nation in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the region, as the country goes through a devastating third peak of the pandemic. For over a month, infections have been snowballing and public health authorities have been raising concern over the mounting caseload, however, the authorities remain resolute to avoid imposing a second lockdown across the capital region.

Authorities reintroduced a curfew in the Greater Malé Region on February 12, in light of the spike in daily infections being reported for the past couple of weeks. The nearly six-hour curfew was followed by restrictions on vehicle movement from 6pm to 6am for Greater Malé residents.

The country remains in a state of public health emergency since 12 March 2020, the last extension is set to expire on April 4.

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.