COVID-19: 17 new infections, 31 recoveries

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Thursday, announced 17 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 3,120.

According to HPA, the 17new cases are; 10 Maldivians, six Bangladeshis, and one Indian.

Meanwhile, 31 additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24-hours, increasing total recoveries to 2,428 people.

The new developments mean Maldives now has 626 active cases.

There are 501 people in isolation facilities.

70,050 samples, including repeated samples, have been taken by health authorities to conduct coronavirus tests.

With the 17 new infections this Thursday, 221 people have tested positive over the past one-week period.

July 23: 17 cases

July 22: 59 cases

July 21: 45 cases

July 20: 33 cases

July 19: 36 cases

July 18: 17 cases

July 17: 14 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 3,120 coronavirus cases in the country are Maldivians, while the remaining 57 percent are foreign nationals. 1,403 people – making for 44 percent of total coronavirus cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the coronavirus cases include 1,367 Maldivians, 253 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.