COVID-19: 116 new infections, 7,818 vaccinations

February 18, 2021: A long exposure shot of the Rasfannu area in Male' City. Since the beginning of 2021, Maldives began to see an upward spike of COVID-19 cases, described as the third wave of the pandemic virus to hit the Maldives. The photo shows an empty street of the capital during a ban on vehicles, which is a part of the safety measures implemented in the nation in light of the heightened situation. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)

Health Protection Agency (HPA), has announced 116 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed cases in the Maldives to 18,340. With the new cases, the Maldives currently has 2,412 active cases.

According to HPA, the new cases include; 108 cases from the greater Male’ region, three cases from residential islands outside Male’, and five cases from operational resorts, and one from a liveaboard.

The confirmed new cases are from 3,968 samples collected.

Meanwhile, 95 additional COVID-19 patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 15,863.

There are 168 patients in hospitals.

479,841 samples (including repeated samples) have been tested for COVID-19 to date.

Caseload over the week

February 18: 116 cases
February 17: 142 cases
February 16: 129 cases
February 15: 125 cases
February 14: 120 cases
February 13: 209 cases
February 12: 120 cases

58 patients have died from complications.

More than 7,818 inoculated, record figures!

The Maldives began mass vaccinations against COVID-19 on February 1. HPA stated that 7,818 people were vaccinated in the last 24 hours. 5,998 were from the greater Male’ region, 1,820 were from other atolls.

A total of 64,048 people have now been inoculated under the program; 49,836 from the greater Male’ region and 14,212 from other atolls.

By Ahmedulla Abdul Hadi

Journalist