Dr. Afzal: Virus sample collection of elderly is not compulsory

National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has announced that the sample collection of elderly individuals will not be made compulsory during random sampling.

Authorities have previously requested that there were cases of refusal in sample collection of elderly individuals. They had requested everyone to comply with the sample collection efforts back then.

Speaking in tonight’s presser, NEOC medical officer Dr. Ibrahim Afzal stated that the sample collection was in no way compulsory and reiterated that the support was low for the random sampling efforts of the authorities.

He stressed that the individuals were not suspected of being infected with the virus.

The government was only working to ensure that the elderly community in the country was safe from the virus, noted Dr. Afzal. He also highlighted that the elderly community was prone to such infections of the virus which could even turn lethal in some cases. 

He once again requested everyone to cooperate with the collection efforts for samples. 

One such sample collected from an elderly individual has tested positive.

The Maldives has so far confirmed 1106 cases of the virus along with four deaths. Out of the four deaths, three are of elderly individuals.