COVID-19: Additional 10 recover from virus, total at 773

Health authorities in the country have confirmed that an additional 10 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 in the Maldives.

Up until last night, the number of recoveries in the country had stood at 763. The additional 10 recoveries were confirmed via the Health Ministry's COVID-19 dashboard. The total number of recoveries from the virus now stands at 773.

Further details regarding the recoveries are yet to come. 

The Maldives has confirmed a total of 1,901 cases of the virus. The new recoveries today, means that the number of active cases in the country has now dropped to 1,118. Recovery rates for the country currently stand at 40.66 percent. Eight people have so far passed away due to the virus.

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. 1,021 people – making for 54 percent of total cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the cases include 643 Maldivians, 191 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.