Mabrouq: New machines will increase testing capacity to 1000

The overall testing capacity of the Maldives would increase by more than twice when the new machinery ordered by the government is received, National Emergency Operations Center has stated.

In a press conference underway tonight, NEOC spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez stated that the testing capacity would increase to 1000 per day with the new machinery. He added that the current resources were operated under a very “manual” procedure.

The new machinery would make the process an automated one, said Mabrouq.

“The new machinery has an automated procedure. The samples processed from these machines would increase capacity. We are also working to obtain machinery that would reduce the number of lab technicians needed to operate it. More than 1000 samples should be processed, when the machines ordered arrive.” Said Mabrouq.

The testing capacity for the country currently stands at just 400 per day. It will rise to 600 with the new machinery that is set to arrive around May 16.

The country has confirmed 904 cases of the virus in total, with seven cases confirmed so far today.

Health professionals in the country have already warned that the country could reach its peak of the virus within the next two weeks. The projected total for the country currently stands at around 77,000. Projected information also shows that the country could record 900 deaths from the virus.

So far the country has recorded just three deaths with 32 recoveries.

The majority of the cases have been identified in the capital Male' City where the first case was confirmed on April 15. The city is in full lockdown and curfew as cases keep on increasing.