The Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has said the decrease in the daily number of COVID-19 cases does not indicate an overall improvement in the country's COVID-19 situation.
The Maldives was reporting over 1,500 positive cases of COVID-19 in an alarming surge of the virus over the past few weeks. The numbers have now decreased to below 300 daily cases after authorities implemented strict measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Speaking at a press conference held Tuesday, HEOC's Spokesperson Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq said most people who are infected with the virus are identified through contact tracing. Random sampling also helps to assess the country's current situation. However, random sampling efforts had to be suspended due to an increase in the number of people seeking testing from flu clinics. Contact tracing efforts also had to be suspended due to the surge in infections, said Nazla. Therefore, the daily numbers declining at a time when random sampling and contact tracing are halted does not paint a true picture of the current situation, she added.
Authorities have now resumed the collection of random samples and at least 380 random samples are collected every day. Contact tracing and active surveillance work have also been resumed. Nazla said contact tracing of at least 80 percent of positive patients must be completed within 24 hours, and contact tracing of all cases has to be completed within 48 hours.
HEOC's Spokesperson Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq
