Maldives sees rapid spike in coronavirus patients

The Maldives has seen a rapid rise in coronavirus cases over the past few weeks. 

It had reported its first case in March and first death from COVID-19 with the number of positive cases standing at 280 on April 30.

Official figures on Saturday showed 766 cases, including 743 that are still active. Three people have died so far.

A vast majority of the patients are residents of Male, the capital, known to be a very congested city.

First cases of COVID-19 were reported at tourist resorts in this Indian Ocean archipelago state and authorities for sometime kept it from spilling over into the community.

But a patient in Male -- with no traceable source of infection -- triggered an explosion in the number of cases.

Six inhabited islands, including Male, are now under lockdown.