COVID-19: Maldives records 137 new infections

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Wednesday, announced 137 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 8,140.

According to HPA, the 137 new cases include 96 locals and 41 foreigners.

129 of the cases were identified from the greater Male’ region, while the remaining eight identified from the atolls.

Meanwhile, 73 additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24-hours, increasing total recoveries to 5,338.

The new developments mean Maldives now has 2,767 active cases.

There are 1,365 patients in isolation facilities and 166 in hospitals.

115,272 samples, including repeated samples, have been taken by health authorities to conduct coronavirus tests.

With the 137 new infections this Wednesday, 915 people have tested positive over the last one-week period.

September 2: 137 cases

September 1: 199 cases

August 31: 137 cases

August 30: 89 cases

August 29: 109 cases

August 28: 140 cases

August 27: 104 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.

5,053 people – making for 62 percent of the 8,140 coronavirus cases in the country, are Maldivians, while the remaining 38 percent are foreign nationals. And 2,377 people – making for 29 percent of total coronavirus cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the coronavirus cases include 467 Indians, 88 Sri Lankans, 73 Nepalese, 12 Italians, 12 Filipinos and eight Indonesians.

29 coronavirus patients have died from complications.

There are 91 active coronavirus cases in 40 residential islands outside of the greater Male’ area. One island outside of the capital, Sh. Feevah, is under monitoring.

There are also active cases in 16 resorts, including 15 tourists and 33 staff.