Dr. Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital in GDh. Thinadhoo has expressed concern over the lack of testing facilities available on the island.
A large number of COVID-19 cases are being reported from Thinadhoo island. However, the hospital is not equipped with a PCR testing machine and instead depends on a Gene Expert Machine to test samples of symptomatic people.
Manager at Dr. Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital, Ahmed Saeed said the number of people testing positive or COVID-19 in Thinadhoo has increased significantly. Due to the lack of a PCR testing machine, samples have to be sent to the capital for testing, and it takes around 72 hours to receive test results,said Saeed. The residents of the islands are concerned due to the lack of testing equipment available on the island, and the island council is working with authorities to have PCR testing facilities available on the island within the week.
Saeed also noted that the Island's council has requested Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF)'s assistance at this time to resolve some difficulties faced by the island. However, the requested assistance has not been received thus far, he further noted.
Special measures are in place in Thinadhoo to curb the spread of COVID-19. Saeed said the residents of the island are cooperative and that the overall public health condition is well. However, residents are facing financial and mental strains due to being forced to stay home for extended periods of time, said Saeed.
Over 10,000 people live in 1,700 households in Thinadhoo. Over a month has passed since the island was put under the Health Protection Agency (HPA)'s monitoring status. 726 people have tested positive for the virus thus far in Thinadhoo out of which 275 cases are active. Two fatalities have also been recorded from the island.
6,181 people in Thinadhoo have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 2,375 people have completed the full dose of the vaccine to date.
