96 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Maldives on Sunday, with an additional 128 recoveries from the infection observed across the island nation.

Health authorities tested a total of 3,071 samples for the infection between Saturday and Sunday, of which 75 samples tested positive from the Greater Male' area. 10 new cases each were reported from inhabited islands and operational resorts, along with one more case confirmed from an industrial island.

With this, the Maldives' total Covid-19 case tally is now 21,572, of which 2,406 are presently active cases. By sundown on Sunday, 125 people remain admitted in hospitals for Covid-19 treatment across the country.

A further 128 recoveries were observed from the infection on Sunday, bringing the total number of recoveries observed for the infection in the Maldives up to 19,095.

The state of public health emergency across the country has been extended for another month, with authorities most recently having confirmed the 64th death from Covid-19 in Maldives. Most of those who have passed away after contracting the infection in Maldives are elderly persons, and health workers have raised the alarm of overburdened facilities as the nation battles a deadly third wave of the pandemic.

Covid-19 health and safety restrictions are being strengthened across the Maldives in order to control transmission of the virus. Malé City residents are now required to provide negative PCR results with a sample taken 72 hours prior to traveling to island, with special permission required for essential travel.

The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has stated that even though the number of daily new cases reported on Friday and Saturday were below the 100-case mark, the thread of Covid-19 still remains large over the Maldives. Spokesperson for the HEOC Dr. Nazla Rafeeq encourages all to observe effective masking when outdoors, and to place special care in practicing social distancing while interacting with others. She added that large gatherings and receiving services from shops, salons and restaurants would also present greater risks, and encouraged members of the public to not gather in groups larger than five.

As most of the daily new cases of Covid-19 reported in the country are from the capital city, the curfew and vehicle movement restriction order in Male' City continue to be in effect, with strict implementation on behalf of authorities.