COVID-19: Maldives records 93 new infections, 71 recoveries

Health Protection Agency, on Wednesday, confirmed 93 new cases of COVID-19 in Maldives, as well as 71 recoveries.

According to the agency, the new cases include 67 locals and 26 foreigners.

HPA revealed that 86 of the additional infections were reported in the Greater Male' Region, while the remaining seven cases were detected from islands outside of the capital area.

Earlier the same day, the agency had confirmed two COVID-19 related fatalities, including the first death outside the Greater Male' region.

Authorities disclosed that a 58-year-old Maldivian male from Kelaa, Haa Alif Atoll, passed away at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital (KRH) on Tuesday night after being transferred to the medical facility for treatment.

Just prior to confirming his death, HPA revealed that a 60-year-old local admitted at Hulhumale' Medical Facility had passed away at 1824 hrs on Wednesday.

With these developments, Maldives currently records a total of 8,834 virus cases of which 2,509 are active cases, in addition to 6,288 recoveries and 31 deaths.

In addition to the Greater Male' region, active virus cases are currently present in 25 inhabited islands as well as 21 resorts across the archipelago.

During the last month, authorities tightened the safety measures implemented in the Greater Male' region, following an alarming upsurge of COVID-19 cases after the state initiated efforts to steer the country towards a 'new normal' with the phased easing of lockdown restrictions.

Authorities have stated that the effects of implementing stricter measures will be reflected in the case numbers towards the end of the month.

After a long period of recording over 100 daily cases, the numbers have slipped down to two-digits during the past four days.

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Maldives' capital Malé continues to record a significant number of COVID-19 cases, similar to the first weeks following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15.

On March 12, WHO classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. To date, the new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 27.8 million people and claimed over 904,500 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 19.9 million people have recovered.