COVID-19: Maldives records 186 new cases, 152 from Male' area alone

February 18, 2021: Photo shows the Boduthakurufaanu Magu 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 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 186 additional cases of COVID-19, increasing confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Maldives to 19,979.

The Maldives now has 2,567 active cases.

According to HPA, the new cases include; 152 cases from the greater Male’ region, 23 cases from residential islands outside Male’, 10 cases from operational resorts, and one case from liveaboards.

Meanwhile, 94 additional COVID-19 patients were confirmed to have made full recoveries over the last 24 hours, increasing total recoveries to 17,343. There are 181 patients in hospitals.

4,247 samples (including repeated samples) have been tested for COVID-19 over the last 24-hours.

Caseload over the week

March 1: 186 cases
February 28: 196 cases
February 27: 118 cases
February 26: 133 cases
February 25: 184 cases
February 24: 124 cases
February 23: 108 cases

62 COVID-19 patients have died from complications.

VACCINE DRIVE

The Maldives began mass vaccinations against COVID-19 on February 1. HPA stated that 5,700 people were vaccinated in the last 24 hours. According to HPA, 2,088 of those vaccinated are from the greater Male’ region, and 3,612 are from the atolls.

Total 117,115 people have now been inoculated under the program; 77,251 from the greater Male’ region, and 39,864 from the atolls.

By Ahmedulla Abdul Hadi

Journalist