Nasheed praises government measures to contain virus

Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has commended the government efforts to contain the Covid-19 virus.

Nasheed was speaking during the parliamentary session today when he said that he had been briefed regarding the government policy for the situation with the virus and added that the measures taken by the government were very efficient.

General Purpose Committee and the Committee for Social Affairs of the parliament met with officials of National Disaster Management Authority and WHO last night and Nasheed said that MPs were briefed on the current measures taken against the virus during the meetings.

Nasheed, who was very critical of the government’s precautionary measures taken before the virus was identified in the country, had even spoken against placing those infected with the disease in quarantine.

The tone has now somewhat shifted, and Nasheed said that he had enquired from the authorities the measures taken against the spread of the virus. 

“We saw that the government’s policy was very constructive and efficient. The controls that are being brought by the government now are to the extent that was previously anticipated and prepared for,” said Nasheed.

Nasheed had been critical of the measures previously for having a damaging impact on tourism, said that an epidemiological survey of the country had been conducted and would be overseen by the parliament.

Nasheed had also spoken against delaying the local council elections and barring tourists from virus-hit countries.

“We clearly noticed, that with the instructions of the Director-General of Public Health, the government’s purpose is to stop the virus from spreading a lot at the same time, but rather prolong the duration of the virus spread, and maintain the government controls,” said Nasheed.

He also noted that the government had chosen the medium level of action given as options by the director of public health which involved medium social distancing or seclusion and that the government would choose the best economic and social option for Maldivians.

Currently, the Maldives has 13 confirmed cases of the virus.