Maldives records lowest positive virus figures since outbreak

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed that just two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the Maldives in the last 24 hours.

This is the lowest number of cases confirmed in the Maldives since the major outbreak of the virus began in the capital on April 15. HPA said that the two confirmed cases today are both locals.

The Maldives has so far confirmed 1,903 cases of the virus in total.

The number of recoveries in the country has also increased to 827 with 54 making recoveries today. Along with this figure, the number of active cases in the country has now decreased to 1,066.

Currently, there are 1,082 individuals in isolation with a further 1,297 in quarantine facilities. Eight deaths have so far been recorded from the virus. They include four elderly locals and four Bangladeshi nationals.

Authorities have so far collected 30,021 samples for testing, including repeated samples.

✳️ COVID-19 Case Updates

As of 06:00pm

Confirmed an additional 02 cases of COVID-19 infection in Maldives

- 02 Maldivians

Total number of cases: 1,903 pic.twitter.com/aEDe5K067b

— Health Protection Agency (@HPA_MV) June 7, 2020

The country identified its first COVID-19 case on March 7 and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic four days later on March 11. Male’ City identified its first COVID-19 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 outbreak in the country, contributing to over 90 percent of the total cases.

Just 33 percent of the 1,901 cases in the country are Maldivians, while the remaining 67 percent are foreign nationals. 1,022 people – making for 54 percent of total cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the cases include 639 Maldivians, 190 Indians, 24 Nepalese, and 11 Italians.

While the authorities have begun relaxing the Male’ lockdown in a bid to promote economic activity, health experts continue to warn people to wear masks, practice social distancing, practice good hygiene and maintain other infection-prevention measures.