The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has revealed that 20,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other necessary equipment are included in the shipment of aid provided by the Bangladeshi government.

Covid-19 spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Aziz revealed that the authorities are working to increase the amount of PPEs used by the frontline workers in the Covid-19 response efforts.

PPE is an equipment, similar to the hazmat suit, worn to minimize exposure to hazards and contagious viruses and Maldives has received a shipment via a Bangladeshi navy boat, which will be unloaded on Wednesday.

This shipment is part of the Bangladeshi government’s free aid to the Maldives and weighs 100 tonnes. It includes 20,000 PPEs, 960 protective goggles and 5,000 hand sanitizer bottles. The ship departed from Bangladesh on 15 April.

The free aid also includes staple food items, fruits, vegetables as well as essential medicines.

Mabrook revealed that the Maldives currently has 3,050 testing kits and is expected to receive 5,000 testing kits by Thursday.