COVID-19: Cases rise to 1,672, recoveries to 401

National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), on Saturday, announced that coronavirus patients who have made full recoveries have increased to 401.

At a press briefing at the NEOC on Saturday night, spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez said that 16 patients who were confirmed by the health authorities to have made full recoveries this Saturday.

He confirmed that it increased total recoveries to 401.

Meanwhile, NEOC confirmed 81 new coronavirus this Saturday, increasing cases nationwide to 1,672.

Maldives identified its first coronavirus case, in Kuredu resort, on March 7. The country declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic on March 11, closed government offices on March 19, and suspended on-arrival visas and closed its orders on March 27.

While coronavirus cases had initially been restricted to resorts and safaris, and later quarantine facilities holding inbound travelers, Male’ City identified its first coronavirus case on April 15, prompting a city-wide lockdown and a nationwide ban on nonessential travel.

The populous capital has since become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, contributing to over 90 percent of total cases.

At an earlier NEOC press briefing, Health Protection Agency (HPA) epidemiologist Dr. Afzal Ibrahim said the health authorities had no cause for alarm for as long as daily coronavirus cases fell within the range of 30 to 50 cases.

However, new coronavirus cases of 81 this Saturday exceed this range.

The spike comes just a day after the government began easing restrictions in a bid to promote economic activity.

In other developments this Saturday, the President’s Office announced that government offices will reopen from May 31 to June 11 to conduct essential work, while the Tourism Ministry announced that it plans on reopening the country’s borders to tourists in July, and that tourists will not be charged additional fees for entrance.