Covid-19: Friday ends with 145 new cases, 131 recoveries

145 new cases of Covid-19 were reported across the Maldives on Friday, with an additional 131 recoveries confirmed from the infection nationwide.

104 of the 145 new cases confirmed on Friday were from the Male' area, with 21 additional cases reported from inhabited islands, 14 new cases confirmed from operational resorts, five cases detected from liveaboard vessels, and one more case reported from an island under development.

Health authorities tested a total of 4,460 samples for the infection between Thursday and Friday.

With this, the Maldives total Covid-19 case tally is now 22,292, of which 2,447 are active cases. By sundown on Friday, 120 people remain admitted in hospitals for Covid-19 treatment across the country.

A further 131 recoveries from the infection were reported on Friday, bringing the total number of recoveries observed for the infection in Maldives up to 19,773.

The state of public health emergency across the country has been extended for another month, with authorities most recently having confirmed the 65th death from Covid-19 in Maldives on Thursday. Most of those who have passed away after contracting the infection in Maldives are elderly persons.

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.

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.