National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has revealed plans to bring COVID-19 test kits to enable detection of the virus in a shorter period of time.
Speaking at a press conference, Spokesperson of NEOC Mohamed Mabrouq Azeez said no challenges are faced in testing for COVID-19 from Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in terms of human resources. He added five staff are heading the testing process from the moment the samples are brought to IGMH.
The spokesperson assured arrangements can be made if the capacity needs to be increased in the IGMH laboratory. Mabrouq noted ADK Hospital and Treetop Hospital has also assured of all necessary assistance. He said efforts are underway to bring more kits which can determine the results in a shorter period of time.
Although samples were initially sent abroad to test for COVID-19, arrangements were made to conduct tests in Maldives with the assistance from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
So far 6,000 test kits have been brought to Maldives which includes 5,000 coronavirus screening kits and 1,000 confirmatory kits.