Elders will not be forced to provide samples, through the ongoing active surveillance by healthcare workers, revealed the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

This was revealed by HPA’s Epidemiologist Dr. Ibrahim Afzal who stated that the authority has initiated active surveillance of elders in the locked down Greater Malé Region. However, Dr. Afzal stressed that the authorities are not receiving the required support from locals despite the authority having sought utmost cooperation and support from the public in their work to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the island nation.

Further speaking at the press, Abdul Hameed from the Rapid Response Team revealed that they had compiled a long list of individuals for sampling and had begun to contact them. Thus far, authorities have been unable to reach only a few of these individuals, said Hameed.

It was revealed that if these individuals report to having any difficulty in sample provision, the authorities will not attempt to collect their samples, forcibly. Dr. Afzal stressed that the authorities will conduct this work, with the support from the public and that it will not be forced.

Earlier, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq revealed that samples are collected from elders as they are deemed vulnerable and at a high risk of contracting the infection.

Highlighting that this is not being done for symptomatic individuals, rather to ensure that they are not carriers of the virus, the doctor noted that it is important to identify the extent of the spread of the disease in order to contain it.

Thus fair, the Maldives has seen four Covid-19 related deaths and three of the victims are aged above 80 years.