Commissioner of Police ‘proud’ as forensics team works round the clock on virus testing

Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed, on Monday, expressed appreciation towards analysts from the Maldives Police Service’s Forensic Services Department who are engaged in conducting COVID-19 testing as new infections in Maldives continues to rise.

Virus cases in Maldives have risen to 1,094, only the main government hospital Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and Maldives Police Service’s Forensic Services Department have systems capable of conducting COVID-19 testing. And while ADK Hospital brought in a real-time PCR system last week, but has yet to begin testing.

Commissioner of Police Hameed, in a tweet on Monday morning, said that a team of 12 analysts from the Forensic Services Department were working round the clock to conduct testing.

The team is also involved in training four lab technicians from ADK Hospital to use the PCR system the hospital procured.

“Proud of this team,” said Hameed.

Maldives Police Service is on the frontlines of the battle to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Maldives. The service is also involved in enforcing social distancing measures, and conducting active surveillance on vulnerable labor quarters.

23 of Maldives Police Service’s officers and staff have tested positive for COVID-19, and 293 more have been placed under managed isolation.

Hameed said that the service was taking enhanced measures to further curb the spread of COVID-19 within the police force. He said that it was essential to ensure the police force isn’t depleted.