COVID-19: Maldives records 65 new infections

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Sunday, announced 65 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 10,530.

According to HPA, the 65 new cases include 51 locals and 14 foreigners.

54 of the cases were identified from the greater Male’ region, while the remaining 11 were identified from the atolls.

Meanwhile, 54 additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 9,364.

With the new developments, Maldives now has 1,125 active cases.

There are 492 patients in isolation facilities and 67 in hospitals.

1,583 samples have been tested for the new coronavirus over the last 24 hours.

With the 65 new infections this Sunday, 432 people have tested positive over the last one-week period.

October 4: 65 cases

October 3: 67 cases

October 2: 44 cases

October 1: 63 cases

September 30: 97 cases

September 29: 37 cases

September 28: 59 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.

6,666 people – making for 63 percent of the 10,530 coronavirus cases in the country, are Maldivians, while the remaining 37 percent are foreign nationals.

34 coronavirus patients have died from complications.

There are 121 active coronavirus cases in 21 residential islands outside of the greater Male’ area.

There are also active cases in 20 resorts, including 10 tourists and 16 staff.