Authorities have launched an active surveillance programme targeting elderly citizens, as part of Covid-19 response efforts.

Dr. Ibrahim Afzal revealed this at Tuesday night’s Covid-19 press briefing at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC).

Highlighting that an active surveillance of elderly is being conducted, the doctor asked for the public’s cooperation in the programme.

While older adults are at a significantly increased risk of severe disease if infected with Covid-19, Dr. Afzal said that the purpose of the surveillance is to ensure that the virus has not spread among this group.

The gender ministry had, on May 8, revealed that it had checked up on 101 elderly citizens amid the pandemic.

While Maldives projects the Covid-19 cases to surge at the end of May, with a peak detected on the 31st, infectious disease expert Dr. Sheena Moosa had said that severe cases might not emerge during this surge, but rather during the second one projected in July; after the virus reaches households.