186 new cases of Covid-19 and an additional 94 recoveries from the infection were reported across the Maldives on Monday, which pushes the nation's total Covid-19 tally up to 19,979.

152 of the 186 new cases of the infection confirmed on Monday were from the Greater Male' area, where restrictions including a ban on congregational prayers have been imposed in order to control an increasingly out-of-control and dangerous caseload. An additional 23 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed from inhabited islands, 10 new cases from operational resorts and one new case from a liveaboard vessel.

With this, the Maldives' total Covid-19 tally now sits close to 20,000, with 19,979 confirmed cases. As of sundown on Monday, there were 2,567 active cases of the infection across the country, and 181 persons had been admitted to receive in-hospital care for Covid-19.

A further 94 recoveries from the infection were reported between Sunday and Monday, bringing the total number of Covid-19 recoveries observed in Maldives thus far up to 17,343. The Maldives' Covid-19 death toll is presently 62, with the two most recent deaths reported over the last two days. 16 percent of all deaths attributed to the Covid-19 infection in Maldives occurred within the month of February 2021, as the island nation goes through a devastating third peak of the pandemic.

HPA statistics also show that the flu positivity rate has gone down despite the increase in cases, especially from the Male' area, which means that fewer people are attending flu clinics despite presenting symptoms of Covid-19. Health Minister Ahmed Naseem has previously described the Covid-19 situation in Male' City as "out of control" and "dangerous". However, he assured that authorities are working towards reducing the capital's caseload without initiating an economically restrictive full-lockdown in the city.