Covid-19 recoveries in the Maldives surpass 20,000-mark

Maldives Covid-19 recoveries have surpassed the 20,000 mark.

According to latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 140 new Covid-19 infections and 107 recoveries were confirmed by sundown on Sunday.

The 140 new infections were detected nationwide out of the 4,397 samples tested for coronavirus from 6pm Saturday to 6pm Sunday.

With this development, Maldives Covid-19 tally has risen to 22,513.

Sunday’s coronavirus cases include 102 in the Greater Malé Region, 17 from residential islands and 14 from operational resorts. Further, health authorities detected one new case from an island under development and six additional infections from liveaboard vessels.

The 107 additional recvoeries reported by sundown on Sunday has pushed the total number of recoveries observed in the island nation, to 20,004.

Maldives active coronavirus infections rose to 2,436 from 2,404 by sundown on Sunday, out of which 95 patients remain hospitalized for treatment, which is 12 patients less than the previous day.

The pandemic has claimed 66 lives in the Maldives thus far, the latest victim having been reported a little past 8pm on Saturday. As such, a 66-year-old man who was rushed to the Emergency Room of Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in an unresponsive state, succumbed to complications after which authorities identified him as the 66th 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 an overwhelming 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. 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.