Maldives records second COVID-19 fatality in 24 hours, death toll at 277

Maldives has recorded the second COVID-19 fatality in the last 24 hours.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that a COVID-19 patient being treated at Hulhumale’ Medical Facility (HMF) had passed away at 6:51am this morning. They identified the deceased as a 74-year-old Maldivian man.

His death increases the number of COVID-19 fatalities in the Maldives to 277.

The last COVID-19 death recorded in the Maldives prior to this was on yesterday; a 95-year-old Maldivian man being treated at HMF, who passed away at 6:17pm in the evening.

Maldives is currently battling a surge in COVID-19 cases, fueled by the new and more contagious omicron variant. Health experts expect the cases to peak by the end of January or beginning of February.   

In January, Maldives recorded a total of 11 COVID-19 fatalities.

Within the last 24 hours, HPA announced 2,754 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed cases in Maldives to 138,880.     

Meanwhile, 2,572 additional COVID-19 patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 120,821.    

With the new developments, Maldives now has 17,770 active cases.      

There are 63 patients in hospitals.