COVID-19: Results of study on community spread expected in 2 weeks

The results of the study being conducted to ensure there is no community spread of COVID-19 in the Maldives will be released in two weeks.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s Medical Officer Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said samples are being collected across the Maldives to ensure that there is no community spread of the virus. 500 samples will be collected for the study, and work is already underway to carry out the study, revealed the doctor. The results of the study are expected to be available within two weeks.

“We estimate a maximum of two weeks for the survey on community spread. However, we are trying to complete it even before that. Samples will be collected from people living in the Male’ as well as in the other islands of the Maldives. We expect to complete collecting samples, testing and getting the results within two weeks”, said Dr Nazla.

As per HPA, no community spread has been identified in the Maldives thus far. The government has taken a number of stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus. Dr Nazla said further decisions on the existing measures to curb the contagion will be taken based on the results of the study.

In the Maldives, 19 people have tested positive for the virus, including 15 foreigners and 4 locals. The four locals are the only active cases while the others have recovered. Two of the foreigners who have tested positive for the virus departed from the Maldives before their test results came back.