National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has stated there is currently no community spread of COVID-19 in any part of the country other than the Greater Male’ Region.
Speaking at the daily press briefing, Spokesperson of NEOC Mohamed Mabrook Azeez said flu clinics have been established in 28 regions across the Maldives, adding samples are obtained from individuals who visit these clinics. In this regard, Mabrook noted 82 samples were collected from flu clinics in the atolls on May 30 alone, none of which tested positive for COVID-19. He said there is currently no community spread of COVID-19 in the atolls, noting any community spread would be detected by the flu clinics.
Meanwhile, the government is working on establishing testing facilities in the atolls to boost the testing capacity of the country and produce faster results. As such, efforts are underway to bring in the cartridges required to test samples for COVID-19 through GeneXpert machines established in regional hospitals. These machines are currently used to test for Tuberculosis.
Additionally, the government is developing COVID-19 treatment facilities in 5 regions across the country. Construction work of all but one facility has been completed, while Local Government Authority (LGA) is working on supplying the beds and medical supplies required for the facilities.