Covid-19: 218 new cases reported, 135 from across atolls

Following record-breaking numbers of new Covid-19 infections reported Friday, Maldives confirmed an additional 218 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, including an 118 recoveries observed for the infection across the country.

76 of the 218 new cases reported Saturday were from the Male' area, with 135 new cases reported from inhabited islands, and six cases from operational resorts. One further infection was detected from an island reserved for industrial use.

Health authorities tested a total of 3,307 samples for the infection between Friday and Saturday.

This is the highest number of daily new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Maldives since the infection first began spreading across the island nation. The number of new cases of Covid-19 reported daily across the Maldives previously topped the 300-case mark on 2 April 2021.

With Saturday's 218 new infections, the number of active cases of Covid-19 across the country have increased by 281 to 3,307 active cases.

As of now, the Maldives' total Covid-19 case tally is now 27,621. By sundown on Saturday, 101 people remain admitted in hospitals for Covid-19 treatment across the country.

A further 118 recoveries from the infection were reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of recoveries observed for the infection in Maldives up to 24,234.

Covid-19 health and safety restrictions were eased across the densely-populated capital ahead of the fasting month of Ramazan, where Covid-19 cases have been spiking of late. More cases of Covid-19 were confirmed from residential islands than Male' City over the weekend as authorities work to contain large infection clusters from across atolls.

Pediatrician Dr. Ahmed Faisal tweeted on Saturday to reveal that three infants born to Covid-positive patients were now being treated on ventilators, even though they had tested negative for the Covid-19 infection. Dr. Faisal added that there was a shortage of resources in the health sector, such as that of nurses, machines and medical equipment in the Maldives, which does not bode well for the situation of Covid-19 across the geographically distanced islands of the country.

The state of public health emergency across the country has been extended until 4 May, with authorities most recently having confirmed the 71st death from Covid-19 in Maldives. Two deaths linked to the infection were confirmed on Friday, with the most recent death reported on Tuesday, including which a total of 23 people have died from the infection in Maldives in 2021. With a Covid-19 mortality rate of 0.26 percent, most of those who have passed away after contracting the infection in the island nation are elderly persons.

Public health authorities continue to stress the importance of following Covid-19 health and safety measures set to control transmission of the virus, including social distancing, avoiding public gatherings, maintaining hand hygiene and effective masking while outdoors.