After another 13 people tests positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives, the total number of cases in the country has inched closer to 1000.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that as of 1 p.m. today, 13 new cases have been found and they consist of eight Maldivians and five Bangladeshi nationals.

With these new cases, the total number of cases in the Maldives is now 968. And while 40 people have recovered so far, four people have died from the illness; three Maldivians and a Bangladeshi national.

With the projections estimating a peak in COVID spread in the next two weeks, the Male’ Area lock down has been extended for the third time. The second extension of the lock down ends tonight at 12 a.m. however, the Director General of Public Health has extended the lock down by another 14 days; up to 28 May.