On Sunday, Maldives reported the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in one day.

Authorities confirmed that an additional 17 people have tested positive on Sunday, bringing the country's total case count to 52.

16 people have recovered and there have been no deaths.

Until April 15, the country had only seen imported Covid-19 cases, either of foreigners at tourist establishments or locals that returned from abroad.

Maldives announced its first Covid-19 case on March 7, from Kuredu Island Resort. While two employees at the resort are to have tested positive, after an Italian that stayed there tested positive after returning home. A criminal investigation was launched, over the decision to allow this individual to travel despite Covid-19 like symptoms; he is to have stayed in the country’s congested capital for two days prior to departing to Italy.

The first 13 cases were discovered at tourist establishments;

These are nine Italians and one each from Turkey, South Africa, United Kingdom and Germany.

While all 13 have recovered, two other Italians’ tests came back positive after they departed the country.

Five locals that returned from abroad, four that arrived from United Kingdom and one from Philippines after authorities decided to quarantined all arrivals, tested positive for Covid-19 while at a facility. Three of them have recovered.

A nationwide state of public health emergency was declared on March 12, and all government offices and other institutions were closed shortly after to curb a spread of the virus. The public health emergency was extended to April 30.

However, the first community transmission case was recorded on April 15 with a woman testing positive upon presenting to the flu clinic in the capital despite no travel history.

A total of 32 cases have been confirmed since, with links to the capital; these are Patients 21 to 52. There are possible six clusters.

Among the confirmed cases linked to the city are 15 locals, 15 Bangladeshis and two Indian nationals; one of the locals that tested positive is a resident of Uligan island of Haa Alifu atoll, who left the capital on April 15.

The Uligan case came less than a day after the director general of public health issued an order for all that travelled to the outlying islands from the greater Malé region, from April 15, to self-isolate and report to the relevant authorities.

Malé City has been on lockdown since April 15; while a 24-hour lockdown was initially announced, it was first extended by 24 hours and then by another 14 days.