COVID-19: 29 positive cases, 130 recoveries

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has just announced the confirmation of 29 new COVID-19 cases, along with 101 recoveries.

The confirmed cases tonight include

• 01 local
• 15 Bangladeshi nationals 
• 09 Nepali nationals
• 02 Indian nationals
• 01 Filipino national
• 01 N/A

The total number of confirmed cases in the country has now increased to 2,094. Currently, there are 331 in quarantine along with 347 in isolation.

The recovery of 130 individuals means that the number of active cases in the country has now decreased to 414.

Authorities have so far collected 36,857 samples for the virus along with repeat samples. The Maldives has so far confirmed eight deaths for the virus. They include four locals and four Bangladeshi nationals.

The Maldives 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.

While COVID-19 cases had initially been restricted to resorts and safaris, and later quarantine facilities holding inbound travelers, Male’ City identified its first COVID-19 case on April 15, prompting a city-wide lockdown and a nationwide ban on nonessential travel.

The country has now begun relaxing the lockdown in a bid to promote economic activity and return to normal life in late May. Since June 15, It has now entered the second phase of the lockdown easements, where residents of Male’ City are permitted outdoors for the first time in two months.

Mosques, parks, and public spaces in Male' City have also been opened with safety measures. Authorities have announced recently that restaurants and cafe's, schools are set to open in July.

Measures in all other islands have also been lifted.

Editor's note: the initial version of this article stated that 101 individuals had recovered. This was a miscalculation. The correct figure for the recovered number on June 16, 2020, is 130 and we sincerely apologize for the miscalculation.