Maldives reported 84 new cases and 170 recoveries from Covid-19 by sundown on Friday.

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the new cases were confirmed out of 3,109 samples tested between 6pm Thursday and 6pm Friday.

As such, 37 new cases were detected from outlying atolls, 37 from the congested capital of the country, nine from operational resorts and one additional case was confirmed from a liveaboard vessel.

The total number of Covid-19 cases confirmed in the island nation since the first few surfaced on 7 March 2020, has risen to 83,332. Further, the additional recoveries reported have pushed the total number of patients to have observed full recoveries from the virus to 81,404.

Active cases continue to drop, currently sitting at 1,686.

One more Covid-19 patient was admitted at the hospital for treatment by sundown on Friday, meaning the hospital admissions have been pushed to 18.

Maldives reported its first Covid-19 fatality in April 2020. Since then, the death toll has been pushed to 229, with the latest deaths reported over the past 24 hours, when an 89-year-old Maldivian man succumbed to virus complications while being treated at the Covid Management Facility in Gaaf Dhaal atoll, followed by the death of an 87-year-old local male.

Maldives was faced by a fourth and more infectious coronavirus wave in early May, with cases rising to alarming levels at 1,000 on a daily basis. With the implementation of stricter measures, cases began declining once again, and authorities introduced further eases to restrictions in early July for the extensive government holidays.

Eases have been doubling with those that have completed both doses of Covid-19 vaccine allowed to travel domestically without the need to quarantine, with a negative PCR test result. HPA has since publicized a list of islands where the criteria for Covid-19 vaccination coverage conditions have been met.

The geographical advantage of being comprised of a scatter of islands initially enabled Maldives to keep tabs on the spread of coronavirus when the first few cases surfaced. Things spiraled out of control after a community transmission was detected in the congested capital on 15 April 2020 to which authorities responded by imposing an immediate lockdown.

Months later, authorities began easing the lockdown in phases, with cases going on a downward spiral. Things seemed to be in control until the new year rolled around and cases began spiraling once more. Since April 2020, authorities have been repeating a cycle of curfews, lockdowns, partial lockdowns and other restrictive measures in their successful efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

The country has been in a state of public health emergency for over a year, since 12 March 2020. It was extended an 18th time to expire on October 1.