Mauritius rolls out mass testing

A total of 4
038 rapid antigen
tests were conducted during the day targeting frontliners namely, healthcare personnel
and members of the Police Force. Out of those tests, two new Covid-19 cases were
detected among Police Officers.

During the daily press briefing of the National
Communication Committee on the Covid-19 held, this afternoon, at the New
Treasury Building, in Port Louis, its spokesperson, Dr ZouberrJoomaye, provided
latest Covid-19 updates for Mauritius.

Speaking about the rapid antigen tests, the spokesperson
indicated that the mass testing will also target supermarket and shop employees.
Several units of the Police Force, namely the Special Mobile Force, the
National Coast Guard as well as Prisons’ staff will be screened.

Mauritius, Dr Joomaye pointed out, took delivery of
the rapid tests last Thursday from South Korea, a country being viewed as an
example since it has successfully dealt with the spread of Covid-19, and has been
the first country to launch rapid testing.

Several people, highlighted the spokesperson, have
been trained over the weekend to conduct the rapid testing and a total of 50 teams
will be involved for these mass screenings. 
The capacity of these screenings will be increased to reach 8000 daily over
the coming days, he added.

Moreover, Dr Joomaye invited all news agencies to
share, with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the names of their reporters
and photographers who were on field during the confinement period so that
necessary actions can be initiated for their screenings.

With regard to protective masks, he indicated that two
types of protective masks are currently available on the market.  These masks are mainly imported from a number
of countries and the latest deliveries which have arrived from China are
manufactured according to the norms set by the World Health Organization and
the European Union.  In addition, local industries
are manufacturing fabric-based masks which are being sent to France for
certification and are produced as per international norms, he recalled.

e this
Wednesday, 29 April 2020.

Latest figures:

·        
Two hundred and eighty-four PCR tests were carried out
today

 

·        
Active cases stand at 20 with three patients who have
left for treatment abroad

 

·        
A total of 19 039 PCR tests have been conducted as at
date

 

·        
Confirmed cases
stand at 334

 

·        
Nine deaths
have been recorded as at now

 

·        
The number of successfully treated patients is 302

 

·        
Three additional patients recovered and were
discharged yesterday

 

·        
Twenty-nine passengers as well as 190 health personnel
are under quarantine across the four quarantine centres

 

#ResOuLakaz     #BeSafeMoris

Government Information Service, Prime
Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius.
Email: gis@govmu.org  Website: http://gis.govmu.org  Mobile App: Search Gov​