COVID-19: Maldives records 30 new infections

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Saturday, announced 30 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 11,421.

According to HPA, the 30 new cases include 18 locals and 12 foreigners.

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

Meanwhile, 44 additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 10,472.

With the new developments, Maldives now has 905 active cases.

There are 321 patients in isolation facilities and 39 in hospitals.

1,355 samples have been tested for the new coronavirus over the last 24 hours.

With the 30 new infections this Saturday, 243 people have tested positive over the last one-week period.

October 24: 30 cases

October 23: 33 cases

October 22: 42 cases

October 21: 45 cases

October 20: 39 cases

October 19: 22 cases

October 18: 32 cases

Maldives identified its first coronavirus case on March 7, and declared a state of public health emegency 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.

7,308 people – making for 63 percent of the 11,421 coronavirus cases in the country, are Maldivians, while the remaining 37 percent are foreign nationals.

37 coronavirus patients have died from complications.