The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed 50 additional positive cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours.
HPA said the new cases include 38 Bangladeshis, one Pakistani national, two Indians and nine locals. The increase is the largest jump in positive cases recorded to date, and brings the total number of positive cases to 191.
Stringent measures have been imposed by the government after the first case of local transmission was identified in capital Male' on April 15. A 14-day lockdown was initiated in Male' city, and inter-island travel has been banned. The Health Minister has hinted that the lockdown may be extended further. Meanwhile, the government is working to increase testing capacity under efforts to curb the contagion.
