National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has urged the public to provide truthful information to authorities regarding contacts in order to control the spread of COVID-19 in the Maldives.
Speaking at the daily press briefing, Dr. Ali Latheef from the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) said it is crucial that truthful information is provided to authorities regarding the places visited and people contacted. Dr. Latheef said the information is sought by authorities for the sake of public safety, adding failure to provide truthful information can lead to the disease spreading uncontrollably across the country. He added providing truthful information can help to impose timely control measures which could save a lot of people from getting infected.
The remarks from NEOC came after one of the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 in Male' City refused to cooperate with the contact tracing efforts of the Health Protection Agency (HPA). However, NEOC later revealed the individual is now cooperating with HPA.
Over 80 cases of COVID-19 have now been detected in the Maldives. NEOC has urged the public to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary and to wear protective masks at all times when going out for essential purposes.