COVID-19: 14 positive cases, just one recovery

Rapid Response teams (RRT) operate in the streets of Male' City to conduct COVID-19 tests on June 6, 2020. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)

Health Protection Agency (HPA), has announced 14 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in the Maldives to 2,913.

According to HPA, the 14 new cases are; 10 Maldivians, three Bangladeshis, and one Indian national.

Meanwhile, just one individual was confirmed to have recovered over the last 24-hours. The total recoveries for the country stand at 2,340.

The new developments mean that the Maldives now has 543 active cases.

There are 459 people in isolation facilities, and 32 people in quarantine facilities.

65,799 samples, including repeated samples, have been taken by health authorities to conduct coronavirus tests.

The 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.

15 COVID-19 patients have died from complications. The latest fatality was recorded earlier this Thursday when a 42-year-old Maldivian man who was undergoing treatment at the Dharumavantha Hospital passed away.

The beginning of July has seen further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions; mosques in the greater Male’ region have been reopened for congregational prayers for the first time in over three months, cafes and restaurants have been allowed to reopen for dine-in services, and government offices and courthouses have officially reopened.

While those who leave the greater Male’ region are still subject to mandatory quarantine, people from other residential islands are now allowed to enter the capital without special authorization.

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

The relaxation of the restrictions has been marked by an increase in daily infections.