Authorities begin Covid-19 antibody testing
The first stage of antibody testing will focus on migrant workers living in congested sites
The first stage of antibody testing will focus on migrant workers | MPL
Authorities have decided to conduct serology tests for Covid-19.
National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC)’s spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Aziz revealed this at Tuesday night’s Covid-19 press briefing, adding that the first stage of antibody testing will focus on migrant workers.
Noting that PCR tests were previously conducted in the Covid-19 vulnerable migrant households under surveillance, Mabrook stated that the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) now wants to conduct antibody tests.
He added that this is to determine those already infected and recovered, and that samples have already been taken from two sites.
Mabrook also noted that NEOC, together with the Maldives Red Crescent (MRC), has been providing assistance to those migrant workers living in congested sites, including medical assistance.
MRC has also launched a Migrants Relief Fund, which has garnered over MVR 880,000, to support its work to help migrants facing the impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak.
While 1,143 have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Maldives, majority are expatriate workers.
