Maldives reported almost 600 new Covid-19 infections on Saturday as the active case count of Covid-19 infections reached 8,640.

Latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal that a total of 590 new Covid-19 infections were detected nationwide between 6pm Friday and 6pm Saturday.

439 of the 590 new cases reported Saturday were from the Male' area, with 141 new cases reported from inhabited islands, and nine cases from operational resorts. one additional infections was detected from a liveaboard vessel.

Health authorities tested a total of 4,014 samples for the infection between Friday and Saturday.

The past week had been the worst week for Covid-19 infections since the pandemic first reached the country in March 2020. The Maldives' total Covid-19 case tall is now 34,724.

With Saturday's 590 new infections, the number of active cases of Covid-19 across the country have increased to 8,640.

By the end of Saturday, there were 230 people receiving in-hospital care for Covid-19 across the country, which is 25 more than the previous day.

A further 210 recoveries from the infection were reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of recoveries observed for the infection in Maldives up to 25,992.

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.

The state of public health emergency in effect across the country since last year has been extended until 3 June. Authorities most recently confirmed the 84th death from Covid-19 in Maldives, with the passing of a 51-year-old local woman who had been taken to the emergency room at IGMH, who had died at 5:46am on Sunday.

Starting Wednesday, a four-hour ban on vehicle movement is in effect alongside other strengthened measures nationwide, including revoking the permit to travel within residential islands two weeks after completing the two Covid-19 vaccination shots, without the need to quarantine. Measures have been strengthened for a period of 10 days. Further authorities have imposed a seven-hour curfew in the capital region from Thursday. HPA has also urged civil servants as well as those employed in private companies to work from home in order to slow the spread. Recently HPA also increased the quarantine period for travel within islands to 14 days. Other measures include closing down daycare centers, halting tuition and quran classes as well as halting physical classes at schools. Doctors have stressed that recent statistics indicate that around 80 children below the age of five are currently testing positive for Covid-19 everyday which triggers increasing concerns as hospital beds fill up across the capital region.

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.