COVID-19: 52 new infections, 32 from Biyadhoo Island Resort

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Friday, announced 52 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 14,040.

According to HPA, the 52 new cases include; 11 cases from the greater Male’ region, six cases from residential islands outside Male’, 34 cases from operational resorts, and one from liveaboards.

Of the 34 new cases from resorts, 32 are from Biyadhoo Island Resort. Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) states that all 32 are resort employees.

Meanwhile, 41 additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 13,279.

With the new developments, Maldives now has 705 active cases.

There are 41 patients in hospitals.

336,381 samples (including repeated samples) have been tested for the new coronavirus to date.

With the 52 new infections this Friday, 236 people have tested positive over the last one-week period.

January 8: 52 cases

January 7: 21 cases

January 6: 37 cases

January 5: 37 cases

January 4: 26 cases

January 3: 33 cases

January 2: 30 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 the majority of total cases.

49 coronavirus patients have died from complications.