Maldivian authorities confirmed a Covid-19 community transmission on April 15.

A month later, on May 15, the island nation has reported a total of 1,020 coronavirus cases.

20 of the cases were either from the resorts or individuals that arrived from abroad and were immediately quarantined.

The remaining 1,000 are part of the community transmission.

The first two Covid-19 cases in the Maldives were reported from Kuredu Island Resort; these were determined as “local transmission” cases as the two are employees at the resort. They are to have contracted the virus from an Italian tourist who was allowed to leave the resort as well as the country despite exhibiting Covid-19 like symptoms; he is to have informed authorities of having tested positive after returning home. While Kuredu Island Resort was placed under monitoring for over 28 days following the discovery of the cases, this also sparked a criminal investigation into the initial spread of Covid-19 in the country.

Cases were also confirmed in Sandies Bathala Maldives, Kuramathi Island Resort, Anatara Dhigu Maldives, Holiday Island Resort, Royal Island Resort and liveaboard ‘Island Safari’.

And while those in these resorts as well as the liveaboard were allowed to travel back home after a quarantine period, samples taken from two Italians on the Island Safari came back positive after their departure of Maldives. This was reported on March 27, and the country announced the decision to halt flights the same day. Cases three to 15 were ruled as “imported cases”.

Other stringent measures taken by authorities to curb a spread in the community include the decision to quarantine all Maldivians returning from abroad. While this came in effect on March 21, it was decided that these individuals will be tested for the virus prior to release from quarantine; this was after a returnee from the United Kingdom tested positive after samples were taken following symptoms.

Cases 16 to 20 reported from the Maldives are “imported cases” as well, as all five are individuals that returned from abroad.

While the fifth returnee was confirmed positive to Covid-19 on April 12, a community transmission was detected three days later with a woman that had no recent travel history testing positive after consulting at a flu clinic in the capital.

Days later, officials revealed a worrying possibility; that the community transmission might have started three weeks prior to detection. What was even more worrying was reported on April 27, that individuals that went to an expo in Dubai in February this year could have returned with the virus.

The greater Malé region was placed on a 24-hour lockdown shortly after the confirmation of Case 21, after just three hours of notice.

And despite it leading to issues over acquiring essentials for households, it was extended by another day before another 14 days were added to the lockdown. And in order to ease things for individuals, authorities decided to issue permits for one individual from a household to be able to go out for essentials for every three days, in addition to the delivery permits being issued.

While the first 14 days of the lockdown ended on May 14, it was extended again and the current lockdown will remain until May 28.

Government offices, schools and businesses were closed prior to the lockdown, and there is a suspension on congregational prayers in the 100% Muslim nation as well. All this will also remain in effect until May 28.

Health officials have asked the government to strengthen Covid-19 precautionary measures as a surge is expected towards the end of May. While the new projected curve, following lockdown, is significantly lower that the previous one, it is still likely to overburden the country’s health system.

A nationwide public health emergency was declared on March 12. While it was initially for 30 days, it was later extended until May 30.

While there are currently 969 Covid-19 patients receiving treatment, most of the cases confirmed in the country are Bangladeshi nationals; 52.16 percent (532 cases). 352 Maldivians have been infected (34.1 percent) and other nationalities that have tested positive since the detection of a community spread include Indians (99), Nepalese (13), Sri Lankan (six) and Pakistani (three).

It is important to note that a number of migrant workers are testing positive in the Maldives due to their living conditions; they have always been vulnerable to catching the coronavirus as they are made to live in congested labour quarters and authorities began work to move them to better facilities in April.

Most of the confirmed cases in the country are between the ages 21 to 60. 22 children under the age of 10 have also tested positive for the virus, as well as five between the ages of 71 and 80 and one over 80.

As per the health ministry, the greatest number of cases were recorded on April 30; 179 cases.

However, health experts have expressed concern over the country’s testing capacity saying that they are not able to detect the numbers believed to be infected at the current rate. Authorities have said that they are working to solve this issue, adding that there are various difficulties to this given that the entire world is fighting the same enemy and in need for the same resources as the Maldives.

Four deaths have also been reported in the Maldives; the first was an 80-year-old Maldivian woman while the fourth victim was her husband, an 88-year-old Maldivian. A 33-year-old Bangladeshi national and 80-year-old Maldivian man have also succumbed to Covid-19.

11 patients are currently hospitalized, and three are on ventilators.

Health officials predict that at least 77,305 people in the Maldives will be infected before things settle. 13,568 of the patients are projected to be hospitalized while 5,805 will require intensive care.

Out of this total, there are 1,562 detectable cases on peak day (May 31) alone. However, officials believe that about 400 of these will be detected on the day given the current testing capacity.