Maldives records 18th COVID-19 death: An 89-year-old man

Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced on Sunday that a coronavirus patient hospitalized at the Hulhumale’ medical facility has passed away.

The deceased has been identified as an 89-year-old Maldivian male.

He passed away at 08:57 pm this Sunday.

It marks the 18^th coronavirus related death to be recorded in Maldives, and comes less than 24 hours after the country recorded its 17^th coronavirus related death.

The latest fatality comes the same day Maldives recorded its biggest single-day spike of 215 new coronavirus cases, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to 4,164.

The country now has 1,489 active cases. 84 of the coronavirus patients are hospitalized, marking the highest number of coronavirus patients to be hospitalized.

The surge in coronavirus cases follows the relaxation of the lockdown in July. An increasing number of new coronavirus cases are unlinked to existing clusters, which health authorities warn indicates a wide community spread. More than 860 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus over the one-week period alone.

Wearing masks in public in the greater Male’ region – the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Maldives – has been declared mandatory.