Maldives reported more than 450 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, with the number of active infections rising past the 4,400-case-mark as new cases reported across the country hit record levels for third consecutive day.
Latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal that a total of 464 new Covid-19 infections were detected nationwide between 6pm Tuesday and 6pm Wednesday.
207 of the 464 new cases reported Wednesday were from the Male' area, with 146 new cases reported from inhabited islands, and 14 cases from operational resorts. 93 additional infections were detected from islands reserved for industrial use, along with three new cases from liveaboard vessels and one case from an island under development.
Health authorities tested a total of 3,948 samples for the infection between Tuesday and Wednesday.
This is the third consecutive day where a record numbers of Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Maldives since the infection first began spreading across the island nation in March 2020.
With Wednesday's 464 new infections, the number of active cases of Covid-19 across the country have increased by 387 to 4,369 active cases.
As of now, the Maldives' total Covid-19 case tally is 29,052. By sundown on Wednesday, 122 people remain admitted in hospitals for Covid-19 treatment across the country.
A further 76 recoveries from the infection were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recoveries observed for the infection in Maldives up to 24,575.
Covid-19 health and safety restrictions were eased across the densely-populated capital ahead of Ramazan and the Local Council and Women's Development Committee Elections, following which there has been a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases being reported in the city. More cases of Covid-19 were confirmed across islands over the last three days, with six islands reporting more than 100 cases of Covid-19. HPA has placed 23 islands under monitoring as of Wednesday, and has identified over 1,200 active infections from residential islands in the Maldives.
Public health authorities held a press conference on Thursday afternoon, but declined to announce stricter Covid-19 health and safety restrictions amid the outbreak. Spokesperson for the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed that while the Covid-19 positivity rate in Male' had increased from three percent in March to 10 percent, and that the flu positivity rate had also increased to 14 percent. However, Dr. Nazla noted that the hospital admissions rate was lower with increased vaccinations, and that only 13 to 16 percent of Covid-positive patients presently required in-hospital treatment. The HEOC notes that 67 percent of the total eligible population in the Maldives has received first doses of Covid-19 vaccines, which is 52 percent of the total population.
The state of public health emergency in effect across the country since last year has been extended until 4 May. Authorities most recently confirmed the 73rd death from Covid-19 in Maldives, with the passing of an Indian national on Wednesday evening. 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.
