The first positive case of Covid-19 in Male’ City was discovered on 15 April 2020 after which Maldives government announced a strict total lockdown on Greater Male’ Region for a 24-hour duration.

However, health authorities will discover 3 cases within the time frame along with several direct contacts with the first reported case in Maldives capital which pushed the government to extend the lockdown period to another 24 hours.

Several other patients testing positive to the virus were discovered, forcing the government to extend its lockdown imposition by 14 days which has since been extended to another 14-day period effective until 14 May 2020.

While it has been 27 days since community outbreak of the virus was announced, it was confirmed during the period that the virus have reached to various parts of the country including a community outbreak at Shaviyani atoll Narudhoo.

Recently the number of positive cases confirmed within 24-hour windows have been surging while health professionals warned of various worse case scenarios with over 77,000 projected to contract the disease.

Meanwhile many of the locals in Greater Male’ Region have been found violating the lockdown regulations as the confinement period extends.

Covid-19 Case Updates

The figures reflected on the illustration is the latest development in Maldives as per Health Protection Agency and Ministry of Health’s updates.

Covid-19 From The News:

11 May – Ministry of Tourism: the government body’s Minister Ali Waheed commented boder reopening and guest welcome expectations for July 2020 under best-case scenario.

Covid-19 Case Figures:

• As of 17:00hrs of 12 May, the total number of confirmed positive cases of the virus in Maldives have reached 897 (+4.1%)
• The number of active cases have subsequently increased to 863 (+4.0%)
• Recoveries from the disease have increased to 31 (+3.23%)

State Decisions

29 April – The total lockdown period in Greater Male’ Region have been extended by another 14 days. The new lockdown deadline will last until 14 May 2020.

30 April – Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday confirmed extending state closure period once again, effective until 14 May 2020.

30 April – Minister of Health announced extending the State of Public Health Emergency once again; stretching the duration until 30 May 2020.

30 April – Minister of Islamic Affairs have once again extended ban on congregational prayers until 14 May amid escalating COVID-19 crisis in Maldives.

Economic News – Highlights

Local

• Public Finance: Ministry of Finance reports state expenditure as of 30 April 2020 reached MVR8.1 billion on cumulative basis, and state revenue reached MVR5.4 billion.
• State Revenue: Ministry of Finance confirmed on their Weekly Fiscal Development both tax revenue and non tax revenue sources generated comparatively less income in 2020 than corresponding period of 2019.
• State Expenditure: the Ministry of Finance reports on moderate drops in government expenditure as Maldives state promises cost cutting measures to reduce negative economic impact.
• Ooredoo Maldives: the telecom giant’s e-commerce platform Moolee’s delivery with expanded catalogue commences to Male’ City and Hulhumale’

International

• Tesla: at-times-eccentric billionaire Elon Musk who was recently in spotlight for the odd naming choice for his child continues to remain in spotlight after he announced reopening Tesla’s only US electric car plant in California against local orders.
• Bitcoin: the world’s biggest cryptocurrency observes its third ‘halving’ since creation in 2009, and witnesses adjustment with reduced rate.
• Britain: the Chancellor of Exchequer Rishi Sunak is set to reveal the “future of the government’s job retention scheme” amid growing calls to extend it.

Weekly Covid-19 Spending Report

Data reflected on the weekly Covid-19 spending report are acquired after assimilating previous week’s spending by state bodies in efforts to counter the pandemic.

As of:

30 April: total spending was recorded at MVR665.4 million. The spending committed by Ministry of Health and NDMA contributed to 91.2% of all spending.

07 May: total spending towards Covid-19 related efforts stood at MVR814.2 million, marking a 22.4% increase compared to previous week. Both Ministry of Health and NDMA continue to contribute towards majority (91.5%) of all spending.

Updates from Press Conference

The following updates are extracted from the latest press conferences – held within the last 24-hours:

• 11 May – Ministry of Home Affairs: Minister Imran Abdullah confirmed 22 out of the 38 random samples collected from Maafushi Jail have tested negative for Covid-19 virus.
• 11 May – Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital: the official spokesperson of National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) confirmed 21 nurses of the hospital were transferred to isolation.
• 12 May – Health Protection Agency: the health authority’s official Dr. Ibrahim Afzal confirms another recovery in Maldives from the Covid-19 virus.
• 12 May – National Emergency Operations Center: spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Azeez concedes major delays in sample acquisition for Covid-19 suspected cases.

 

Editor’s Note: The data represented in the format of news, article or bulletin in this report are collected verified and official sources countering the viral pandemic, as well as news releases, media updates and critical data from government institutions. Follow this space for more developments; updated in every 24 hours.

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