Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed 868 cases of COVID-19 and two deaths were recorded in the past week.
Statistics from the HPA show 409 positive cases were reported in the atolls, 258 cases were reported in the Greater Male' Region, and 197 cases were reported in resorts. The statistics also show 2,019 active cases with 10 receiving treatment at hospitals.
The total number of positive cases in the Maldives has reached 94,732 with 261 total COVID-19 related deaths. The number of deaths is higher compared to the 197 deaths recorded during the Shigella outbreak in the Maldives in 1982. The number is also higher compared to the 252 deaths from Cholera in 1978, during which 11,303 Maldivians were infected in a total population of 148,780.
Furthermore, HPA has urged the public to limit large gatherings during the ongoing school holidays, in order to control the spread of COVID-19. The health agency noted a large number of individuals are travelling across the country due to the start of school holidays. The agency urged the public to exercise caution when travelling by adhering to personal safety measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing. The agency also called on the public to limit the number of parties and gatherings and to adhere to safety measures when conducting such events.
The highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in the Maldives, although all five confirmed cases of Omicron in the Maldives are imported cases. HPA stated further samples have been sent for gene sequencing to confirm if there is a local transmission of the Omicron variant in the Maldives.