Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has stated PCR testing facilities are set to be established in Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and Hulhumale’ Hospital.
Speaking at the daily press briefing, Spokesperson of HEOC Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq said additional facilities are being established to boost the COVID-19 testing capacity in the Maldives. In this regard, she said PCR testing facilities will soon be established in MFDA and Hulhumale’ Hospital.
Dr. Nazla further revealed an additional 5,000 PCR test kits have arrived in the Maldives, taking the total stock to 8,000. She added a further 40,000 test kits are expected to arrive soon, which would significantly increase the current testing capacity.
PCR testing facilities are currently established in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), forensic laboratory of Maldives Police Service (MPS), Addu Equatorial Hospital and Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital. Furthermore, COVID-19 testing using GeneXpert cartridges have been made available in Ungoofaaru, Eydhafushi, Thinadhoo, Gan and Addu City.
Over 1,000 samples are tested daily on average in the Maldives. Over 122,000 samples have so far been tested for COVID-19 in the Maldives, including repeat samples.