Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that 215 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives on Sunday, marking the highest number of daily positive cases recorded in the country till date.

According to the agency, the new cases include 149 Maldivians, 54 Bangladeshi nationals, seven Indians, two Sri Lankans, 2 Nepalese citizens, and one Indonesian.

HPA stated that a total of 214 individuals that newly tested positive belong to the Greater Male' region, while one case was detected in an island.

Statistics also show that 30 patients made full recoveries from the virus.

However, the country recorded its 18th COVID-19 related death, a 89-year-old Maldivian male, who was admitted at the Hulhumale' Medical Facility.

With these developments, Maldives now records total of 4,164 confirmed and 1,489 active COVID-19 cases, along with 2,643 recoveries and 18 deaths.

After recording low numbers for several weeks during the month of June, virus cases have now spiked, reducing the total amount of recovered patients from the peak 86 to 63 percent.

The number of COVID-19 cases increased after the state initiated efforts to steer the country towards a 'new normal' with the phased easing of lockdown restrictions across the Greater Male' Region.

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Maldives' capital Malé recorded a significant number of COVID-19 cases in the first weeks following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15.

In addition to the Greater Male' region, active virus cases are also present in Kelaa and Ihavandhoo of Haa Alif Atoll, Eydhafushi, Kamadhoo, Hithaadhoo and Seaside Finolhu resort of Baa Atoll, Kurendhoo and Hinnavaru of Lhaviyani Atoll, Maafushi of Kaafu Atoll and Fulidhoo of Vaavu Atoll.

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Maldives' capital Malé continue to record a significant number of COVID-19 cases, similar to the first weeks following the first confirmed local transmission on April 15.

On March 12, WHO classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. To date, the new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 18 million people and claimed over 690,000 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 11.3 million people have recovered.

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