166 new cases of Covid-19 were reported across the Maldives on Saturday, with an additional 89 recoveries confirmed from the infection nationwide.

91 of the 166 new cases confirmed on Saturday were from the Male' area, with 52 additional cases reported from inhabited islands, 11 new cases confirmed from operational resorts, along with one more case from an industrial island.

Health authorities tested a total of 4,283 samples for the infection between Friday and Saturday.

With this, the Maldives total Covid-19 case tally is now 23,403, of which 2,712 are active cases. By sundown on Saturday, 98 people remain admitted in hospitals for Covid-19 treatment across the country.

A further 89 recoveries from the infection were reported on Friday, bringing the total number of recoveries observed for the infection in Maldives up to 20,618.

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 has also dissolved the vehicle movement restriction order in effect in Malé, although a citywide curfew remains active at this time to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Covid-19 cases have been spiking in islands of late, with a huge cluster having been reported from the Felivaru industrial island this week.

The state of public health emergency across the country has been extended for another month until 4 April, with authorities most recently having confirmed the 66th death from Covid-19 in Maldives. Most of those who have passed away after contracting the infection in Maldives are elderly persons.