Covid-19: decrease in detected cases "not due to lack of testing"
Dr. Afzal said that they continue to collect and test same number of samples as previously
Dr. Ibrahim Afzal at Sunday night\'s Covid-19 press briefing | Presidents Office
Authorities have said that the decrease in detected Covid-19 cases “is not due to lack of testing”.
Dr. Ibrahim Afzal made the statement during Sunday night’s Covid-19 press conference at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC).
The doctor stressed that they continue to collect and test same number of samples as previously.
He detailed that 1,833 samples were collected between 13-16 May and that around 350 to 385 are tested each day.
Dr. Afzal attributed the reduced numbers to the public paying attention to their calls, “including locals and foreigners”.
He also stressed that the number of contacts of new cases have reduced significantly as well.
Further, while a large number of the affected have been the expatriate population, the doctor emphasized that cases among this group have also decreased.
However, he stressed that the number of infected locals being detected is about the same.
Dr. Afzal said that they will continue active surveillance as well as to collect random samples, despite the reduced number of infected cases.
While Maldives has recorded a total of 1,094 Covid-19 cases thus far, 388 (35.47 percent) are locals. Number of infected foreigners;
The country has seen 59 recoveries and four Covid-19 related deaths.
