Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has stated Health Protection Agency (HPA) will not inform an individual tested positive for COVID-19 via a text message.
Speaking in a press conference held at HEOC, Spokesperson Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq said the centre has been notified that some individuals are receiving text messages informing them of testing positive for COVID-19. However, she assured HPA will not send the results via a text message if the sample tested positive.
Dr. Nazla said the Clinical Management Team of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) is tasked with informing patients when samples are tested positive adding contact tracing, transportation of patients to isolation and quarantine are undertaken by HEOC. Furthermore, she reassured no patients were falsely informed of testing positive for COVID-19, apart from a very few cases.
Dr. Nazla noted such rare cases are caused not because of any issues in testing, but rather some technical issues in entering the samples to the system. She added measures are being taken to avoid any such cases in the future.