COVID-19: Maldives records 51 new infections

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Saturday, announced 51 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 10,859.

According to HPA, the 51 new cases include 35 locals and 16 foreigners.

44 of the cases were identified from the greater Male’ region, while the remaining seven were identified from the atolls.

Meanwhile, 29 additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 9,683.

With the new developments, Maldives now has 1,135 active cases.

There are 376 patients in isolation facilities and 74 in hospitals.

1,338 samples have been tested for the new coronavirus over the last 24 hours.

With the 51 new infections this Saturday, 394 people have tested positive over the last one-week period.

October 10: 51 cases

October 9: 66 cases

October 8: 86 cases

October 7: 35 cases

October 6: 54 cases

October 5: 37 cases

October 4: 65 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.

6,930 people – making for 63 percent of the 10,859 coronavirus cases in the country, are Maldivians, while the remaining 37 percent are foreign nationals.

34 coronavirus patients have died from complications.

There are 153 active coronavirus cases in 22 residential islands outside of the greater Male’ area.

There are also active cases in 20 resorts, including 10 tourists and 17 staff.