Operator of Anantara chain of hotels, Minor Hotel Group, has donated a PCR machine to the Maldives to boost the COVID-19 testing capacity in the country.
Ministry of Economic Development revealed Minor Hotel Group has donated a PCR machine, along with 378.5 litres of hand sanitiser to the Maldives. The ministry acknowledged and appreciated the assistance extended by Minor Hotel Group to the Maldives in the efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The government has been working on acquiring additional PCR machines to boost the testing capacity for COVID-19 in the Maldives. As such, efforts are underway to acquire additional PCR machines to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and Tree Top Hospital in order to increase the testing capacity to 1,000 tests per day.
Meanwhile, the government is also working on acquiring the cartridges required to conduct COVID-19 tests through GeneXpert machines established in regional hospitals. Ministry of Health earlier revealed the cartridges are expected to arrive latest by early June.
Critical care facilities are also being developed in the atolls in preparation for a surge in COVID-19 cases. In this regard, critical care centres are being developed in Addu City and Fuvahmulah City as well as Laamu Atoll, Haa Alifu Atoll, Gaafu Alifu Atoll and Shaviyani Atoll.