National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has stated proper testing would identify over 300 COVID-19 cases in the Maldives daily.
Speaking at the daily press briefing held at the NEOC, Dr. Sheena Moosa discussed possible projections of various scenarios, stating that testing in the Maldives is relatively low. She further stated the testing strategy used in the Maldives must be changed to contain the further spread of COVID-19.
Moreover, the doctor said the country has not yet been able to contain the spread due to low testing capacity, and hence, positive cases cannot be identified amongst people who do not develop COVID-19 symptoms. She stressed on the importance of increasing the number of daily tests in the Maldives. She remarked treatments are only started after the health condition of people deteriorates, adding delays in identifying COVID-19 patients cost lives.
Spokesperson of NEOC Mohamed Mabrook Azeez also voiced a similar rhetoric to Dr. Sheena on testing. Mabrook said a machine in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and another in Maldives Police Service (MPS) are the only machines administering tests at the moment.
The spokesperson further said efforts are ongoing to increase the testing capacity in the country. He said the administration expected to bring another machine to IGMH and increase testing capacity from 400 to 600. The machine is now expected to arrive in the Maldives by May 17 due to delays caused in freight.
Likewise, the spokesperson also said the President's Office, Ministry of Health, State Trading Organisation (STO) and other government authorities have made various efforts to purchase additional machines to increase testing capacity. He stated the efforts have not yet been successful thus far.