COVID-19: 59 new infections, no new recoveries

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Wednesday, announced 59 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 3,103

According to HPA, the 59 new cases are; 44 Maldivians, 14 Bangladeshis, and one Indian.

Meanwhile, no additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24-hours, and total recoveries remains 2,397 people.

The new developments mean Maldives now has 676 active cases.

There are 478 people in isolation facilities.

69,370 samples, including repeated samples, have been taken by health authorities to conduct coronavirus tests.

With the 59 new infections this Wednesday, 272 people have tested positive over the past one-week period.

July 22: 59 cases

July 21: 45 cases

July 20: 33 cases

July 19: 36 cases

July 18: 17 cases

July 17: 14 cases

July 16: 68 cases

Maldives identified its first coronavirus case on March 7, and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic less than a week later on March 12.

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 quickly emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Maldives, contributing to over 90 percent of total cases.

43 percent of the 3,103 coronavirus cases in the country are Maldivians, while the remaining 57 percent are foreign nationals. 1,397 people – making for 45 percent of total coronavirus cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the coronavirus cases include 1,357 Maldivians, 252 Indians, 46 Nepalese, and 24 Sri Lankans and 11 Italians.

15 coronavirus patients have died from complications.

The beginning of July has seen further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions; mosques in the greater Male’ region have been reopened for congregational prayers, cafes and restaurants reopened for dine-in services, government offices and courthouses have officially reopened, and schools have partially reopened.

The country’s borders, which were closed on March 27, reopened after more than three months on July 15.

The relaxation of the coronavirus restrictions has seen a spike in coronavirus cases. An increasing number of coronavirus cases identified in July have no link to existing clusters, which health officials warn is an indication of a wide community spread.

Health officials continue to urge the public to maintain social distancing and other preventive measures.