A record total of 585 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed across the Maldives by sundown on Monday, provoking healthcare authorities to implement stricter measures across the island nation.
According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Monday night, it has been over a week where Maldives recorded alarming numbers of new infections. As such 585 new infections were confirmed through 4,255 samples collected for testing between 6pm Sunday and 6pm Monday.
The Maldives Covid-19 tally has been pushed to 31,330 with the new cases, of which 397 were reported in the Greater Malé Region, 160 from residential islands and 11 from operational resorts. Further, an additional 15 new infections were confirmed from islands reserved for industrial purposes and two new cases were detected from islands under development.
With 146 additional recoveries reported over the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries from Covid-19 reported across the Maldives increased to 25,214.
The number of active infections nationwide currently exceeds 6,000. By Monday’s end active cases are at 6,033.
Over the past 24 hours, one more Covid-19 patient was hospitalized for treatment, meaning that the number of hospital admissions has risen to 173.
The Covid-19 caseload has begun spiking in recent weeks at a time Maldives was able to control a devastating third peak of the virus into the beginning of the new year, with strengthened measures such as a curfew period and travel restrictions. However, authorities lifted the measures in place in time for the fasting month of Ramadan 1442 as well as the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections held in mid-April.
Maldives has been in a state of public health emergency for over a year and the last extension is set to expire on May 4.
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.
