Survey to ensure no community spread of virus underway

Authorities in the Maldives are conducting a survey to ensure that the Covid-19 virus has reached communities in the country.

In a press conference last night, IGMH medical officer, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq stated that the survey to ensure that a community spread has not occurred was underway. She added that no signs of the spread of the disease in the public have been found so far, and the survey was being conducted to ensure this.

A community spread is when the disease spreads amongst members of a community who have not traveled abroad. It is widely accepted as a signal that the disease may go out of control and increase the number of infected cases. Dr. Nazla has also previously stated that no signs of a community spread were noticed in the Maldives.

She reiterated the statement last night as well and went on to clarify that the survey would see the collection of samples from many.

“We are now working on a study to ensure that there is no community spread. (We are deciding on) which individuals to collect samples from, how many samples are to be collected.” said Dr. Nazla.

She added that the work of the survey would be concluded quickly but did not give an exact date.

Dr. Nazla stated that samples were still being collected from those consulting with flu clinics. The results from these samples had led to the assertion that there is no community spread in the Maldives so far.

A special team to find out whether the virus could spread if the government’s safety and preventive measures were lifted have now been formed, according to Dr. Nazla and additional steps to be taken in case there is no community spread were also being considered.

The Maldives has so far confirmed 19 cases of the virus, 13 of whom have since made full recoveries. Four are still undergoing treatment. The 13 that recovered are all foreigners. The four under treatment are locals who returned from the UK. Two Italian tourists departed from the country after completing their mandatory quarantine period. Their test results were l=received by local authorities as positive after they had already departed from the country.