25 samples taken through random community-based Covid-19 testing
The programme is being conducted under a community surveillance policy
A team of health care workers clad in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) active on the streets on Monday evening
Maldivian authorities have begun random community-based testing for Covid-19.
While the programme is being conducted under a community surveillance policy and is being conducted in the greater Malé region including its suburban districts Villimalé and Hulhumalé, 25 samples were taken on Monday.
Speaking at Monday night’s press conference, Dr. Ibrahim Afzal said that weather conditions had hindered the work but that they were able to take a total of 25 samples.
Authorities made the decision to conduct community-based random testing after previous random tests led to the identification of positive cases.
This programme will focus on areas that could lead to spreading of Covid-19, such as the market area in Malé as well as small shops and ferries.
While a community transmission was detected in the capital on April 15, Dr. Afzal on Monday said that “there is reason to believe” that individuals that attended the Gulfood Expo Dubai in February “had come back with the infection”.
