Male: Over 10,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the Maldives thus far.

According to the Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s statistics, a total of 10,811 tests have been conducted for COVID-19 up until Thursday night.

Out of the total, test results are currently pending for 536 samples.

The Maldives currently has the capacity to conduct 300 – 400 COVID-19 tests on a daily basis and tests are carried out at the National Reference Laboratory at Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and the Forensic Laboratory at Maldives Police Service (MPS).

A total of 16 laboratory technicians have been trained for COVID-19 testing, IGHM revealed earlier.

While inadequate testing capacity is one of the biggest challenges facing the country’s response efforts to COVID-19, the government is working tirelessly to increase the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity. In light of this, COVID-19 task force’s spokesperson, Mohamed Mabrook Aziz has revealed that they are working to bring 200 additional machines for testing, by May 17.

The government’s work to bring in more machines is also hindered due to the several precautionary measures taken by the governments of foreign countries, including movement restriction and lockdowns. Despite these challenges, the President’s Office, Health Ministry and State Trading Organization (STO) are working to bring inadequate supplies and equipment needed by frontline workers.

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