With 199 new infections, coronavirus cases surpass 8,000

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Tuesday, announced 199 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 8,003.

According to HPA, the 199 new cases are; 145 Maldivians, 42 Bangladeshis, five Indians, three Sri Lankans, two Americans, one Chinese, and one Japanese.

168 of the cases were identified from the greater Male’ region, while the remaining 31 identified from the atolls.

Meanwhile, 110 additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24-hours, increasing total recoveries to 5,265.

The new developments mean Maldives now has 2,703 active cases.

There are 1,395 patients in isolation facilities and 162 in hospitals.

113,885 samples, including repeated samples, have been taken by health authorities to conduct coronavirus tests.

With the 199 new infections this Tuesday, 956 people have tested positive over the last one-week period.

September 1: 199 cases

August 31: 137 cases

August 30: 89 cases

August 29: 109 cases

August 28: 140 cases

August 27: 104 cases

August 26: 178 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.

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

4,957 people – making for 61 percent of the 8,003 coronavirus cases in the country, are Maldivians, while the remaining 39 percent are foreign nationals. And 2,351 people – making for 29 percent of total coronavirus cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the coronavirus cases include 455 Indians, 85 Sri Lankans, 73 Nepalese, 12 Italians, 12 Filipinos and eight Indonesians.

29 coronavirus patients have died from complications.

There are 90 active coronavirus cases in 41 residential islands outside of the greater Male’ area. Some of the islands have also been placed under monitoring; G. Dh. Thinadhoo, Dh. Maaenboodhoo, and Dh. Kudahuvadhoo.

There are also active cases in 16 resorts, including 16 tourists and 29 staff.