COVID-19: 36 new infections, 47 recoveries

Health Protection Agency (HPA), on Thursday, announced 36 additional cases of the new coronavirus, increasing confirmed coronavirus cases in Maldives to 2,553.

According to HPA, the 36 new cases are; 33 Maldivians, two Bangladeshis and one Indian

Meanwhile, 47 additional coronavirus patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24-hours, increasing total recoveries to 2,227 people.

The new developments means Maldives now has 306 active cases.

There are 283 people in isolation facilities, and 97 people in quarantine facilities.

59,530 samples, including repeated samples, have been taken by health authorities to conduct coronavirus testing.

The 33 new infections this Thursday is a more than double the 16 new infections confirmed on Wednesday, and the 10 new infections the day before.

CORONAVIRUS CASES AT THE PG’S OFFICE, PARLIAMENT

The new infections this Thursday include a member of the administrative staff at the Prosecutor General’s Office, and a driver at the Parliament.

Both the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Parliament have been decontaminated, while contract tracing remains in progress.

CORONAVIRUS PATIENT ON THE RUN CAPTURED, TAKEN TO ISOLATION

The police conducted a search for a migrant worker who had evaded the health authorities after testing positive for the new coronavirus on Thursday evening.

A spokesperson said the police located the worker at the Artificial Beach in Male’ City, and that a crowd of migrant workers had gathered in the area when the police went there with health officials.

Aseymirus dhunkolhehgaves nujehi thibe thibefa mioh nukunnanee. pic.twitter.com/lfCiaveAUU

— Aishath Aniya (@Aniya_A) July 9, 2020

The migrant worker has been taken to an isolation facility with the assistance of the police.

Maldives identified its first coronavirus case on March 7, and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic four days later on March 11.

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 and a nationwide ban on nonessential travel.

The populous capital quickly emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Maldives, contributing to over 90 percent of total cases.

35 percent of the 2,553 coronavirus cases in the country are Maldivians, while the remaining 65 percent are foreign nationals. 1,295 people – making for 51 percent of total coronavirus cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the coronavirus cases include 943 Maldivians, 228 Indians, 44 Nepalese, and 19 Sri Lankans and 11 Italians.

13 coronavirus patients have died from complications.

Maldives began relaxing its lockdown following a drop in daily infections in the end of May.

The beginning of July has seen further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions; mosques in the greater Male’ region have been reopened for congregational prayers for the first time in over three months, cafes and restaurants have been allowed to reopen for dine-in services, and government offices and courthouses have officially reopened.

While those who leave the greater Male’ region are still subject to mandatory quarantine, people from other residential islands are now allowed to enter the capital without special authorization.

Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has warned that unlinked coronavirus cases have begun to increase with the further relaxation of the lockdown, and has urged the public to maintain social distancing and other preventive measures.

Meanwhile, HPA has announced plans to initiate mass public health inspection in the greater Male’ region on July 12, in which the agency will inspect the practice of coronavirus guidelines by different service providers.