COVID-19: Maldives confirms 140 new infections, 182 recoveries

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Friday, announced 140 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed cases in the Maldives to 7,469.

According to HPA, the new cases are 114 Maldivians, 17 Bangladeshis, three Indians, and two Nepalese, two Emiratis, one Kenyan and one French national.

134 of the cases were identified from the greater Male’ region, while the remaining six were identified from other atolls.

Meanwhile, 182 additional COVID-19 patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24-hours, increasing total recoveries to 4,873.

The new developments mean the Maldives now has 2,568 active cases.

There are 1,426 patients in isolation facilities and 192 in hospitals.

109,120 samples, including repeated samples, have been taken by health authorities to conduct COVID-19 tests.

Caseload over the last seven days:

• August 28: 140 cases
• August 27: 104 cases
• August 26: 178 cases
• August 25: 135 cases
• August 24: 133 cases
• August 23: 119 cases
• August 22: 96 cases

The Maldives identified its first COVID-19 case on March 7 and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic less than a week later on March 12.

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.

The populous capital quickly emerged as the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Maldives, contributing to over 90 percent of total cases.

28 COVID-19 patients have died from complications.

There are also active cases in 15 resorts, including 15 tourists and 19 staff.