Maldives currently has the capacity to conduct over 1,000 Covid-19 tests on a daily basis, says the Minister of Health, Abdulla Ameen.
Joining a press briefing at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) on Wednesday night to provide updates regarding the process of easing the Greater Malé lockdown, Minister Ameen noted that with the progress in the country’s testing capacity, up to 1,100 tests can now be conducted in the island nation per day.
Further, the ministry will be revising the testing capacity further in accordance with the circumstances.
According to the minister, the testing capacity is being increased under the first phase of the lockdown ease and a forecast has been made for the next phases as well.
While tests were previously carried out at the National Reference Laboratory at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and the Forensic Laboratory at Maldives Police Service (MPS), quite recently the authorities began the service at ADK Hospital as well.
With the testing capacity increase in ADK Hospital, we can now conduct 1,100 Covid-19 tests”Abdulla Ameen, Minister of Health
The laboratory in IGMH conducts about 600 – 700 Covid-19 tests on an average and authorities are working to increase the testing capacity of the hospital as well.
Further, the police lab has the capacity to test about 140 samples per day, said Ameen.
The government has also announced the decision to make arrangements for Covid-19 testing in outlying atolls.
While inadequate testing capacity was one of the biggest challenges facing the country’s response efforts to Covid-19, the government has been working tirelessly to increase the country’s Covid-19 testing capacity by bringing in more testing machines as well as training more lab technicians to conduct testing.
