Health Protection Agency HPA has reported 186 new cases of COVID-19 in the Maldives today as the upward rate of infection continues despite stern measures taken to deter the spread of the pandemic.

In a tweet, HPA said that 162 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 from the Male' Area today while 14 new cases were reported from inhabited islands. HPA also reported 10 new cases of the pandemic from operational resorts across the country.

The new cases take the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in the Maldives to a staggering 17,387.

HPA said that there are currently 2,243 active cases of the illness in the country and that 211 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized for further treatment.

It had also said that 15,081 people have now recovered from the illness in the Maldives.

HPA had confirmed that 56 people have succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives including 49 Maldivians and 7 foreigners.

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases, especially in the Greater Male' Area, had prompted authorities to tighten the restrictive measures taken against the pandemic. This includes a vehicular ban in the area from 08:30 pm to 04:30 am every day and a general curfew from 11:00 to 04:30 am in the area. Authorities have also made it mandatory to wear facemask in public in all inhabited islands of the country until further notice.

Southern parts of the country are now facing the brunt of the pandemic as all three major islands in the area are now under monitoring following an outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the area. This includes Addu City, Fuvuamulah City, and Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo.