Maldives reported 594 Covid-19 infections between 6pm Sunday and 6pm Monday.

According to the latest statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) late Monday, a total of 1,433 Covid-19 new infections were detected nationwide, of which 839 correspond to positive cases from backlog samples.

HPA tested 4,480 samples for Covid-19 over the past 24 hours and the new infections detected include 1,294 reported in the Greater Malé Region, 134 from residential islands and five from operational resorts.

With the new developments, Maldives Covid-19 total case count has been pushed to 45,956 with the country’s active tally currently sitting at 16,997.

Over the past 24 hours, 390 additional recoveries were reported with which the number of recoveries from Covid-19 reported across the Maldives increased to 28,849.

With a recent spike in daily infections, hospital admissions have also doubled. However, over the past 24 hours, six more Covid-19 patients were hospitalized for treatment, meaning that the number of hospital admissions has risen to 268.

The Covid-19 caseload has begun spiking in recent weeks at a time Maldives was able to control a spike in cases into the beginning of the new year, with strengthened measures such as a curfew period and travel restrictions. However, authorities lifted the measures in place in time for the fasting month of Ramadan 1442 as well as the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections held in mid-April.

Measures were strengthened across the Maldives earlier in May with authorities having imposed a curfew in the capital region from 4pm to 4am. HPA has also urged civil servants as well as those employed in private companies to work from home in order to slow the spread. Recently HPA also increased the quarantine period for travel within islands to 14 days. Other measures include closing down daycare centers, halting tuition and Quran classes as well as halting physical classes at schools. Doctors have stressed that recent statistics indicate that around 80 children below the age of five are currently testing positive for Covid-19 everyday which triggers increasing concerns as hospital beds fill up across the capital region. These measures have since been extended for another fortnight.

The authorities have revealed that discussions are currently underway on the possibilities of imposing a second lockdown across the Covid-19 epicenter.

Public health authorities continue to stress the importance of following Covid-19 health and safety measures set to control transmission of the virus, including social distancing, avoiding public gatherings, maintaining hand hygiene and effective masking while outdoors.

Maldives has been in a state of public health emergency for over a year and the last extension is set to expire on June 3.