Maldives continues to report record numbers of daily Covid-19 cases, with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) having discovered a record total of 601 new infections nationwide by sundown on Tuesday.

It has been over a week where Maldives has been recording alarming numbers of coronavirus infections, with latest statistics publicized by the public health authority indicating that a total of 4,552 samples were tested for the virus between 6pm Monday and 6pm Tuesday.

Of the 601 new coronavirus cases, 440 were reported in the Greater Malé Region, 141 from residential islands and 19 from operational resorts. Further, an additional infection was confirmed from an island reserved for industrial purposes.

With this development, the Maldives Covid-19 tally has been pushed to 31,931.

With 126 additional recoveries reported over the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries from Covid-19 reported across the Maldives increased to 25,340.

By Tuesday’s end active coronavirus cases rose to 6,508 from 6,033.

Over the past 24 hours, eight more Covid-19 patient were hospitalized for treatment, meaning that the number of hospital admissions has risen to 181.

The Covid-19 caseload has begun spiking in recent weeks at a time Maldives was able to control a devastating third peak of the virus 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.

Starting Wednesday, a four-hour ban on vehicle movement is in effect alongside other strengthened measures nationwide, including revoking the permit to travel within residential islands two weeks after completing the two Covid-19 vaccination shots, without the need to quarantine. Measures have been strengthened for a period of 10 days, after which additional extensions will be implemented should the need arise.

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.

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.