COVID-19: 21 positive cases reported along with 16 recoveries

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced the confirmation of 21 new COVID-19 cases in the Maldives, along with 16 recoveries.

The confirmed cases tonight include:

• 12 locals
• 07 Bangladeshi nationals
• 01 Indian national
• 01 Nepali national

The total number of confirmed cases in the country has now increased to 2,238. Currently, there are 140 in quarantine along with 318 individuals isolation.

The recovery of 16 individuals means that the number of active cases in the country currently stands at 396. The total number of recoveries in the country currently stands at 1,829.

Authorities have so far collected 43,998 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 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.

After a gradual easement in lockdown measures, the President announced today that the Maldives will open borders on July 15.