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Saturday 16 Nov 2024
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Government spokesperson Mabrook Azeez speaking at a news conference on March 16, 2020. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Saeed)
The government has informed that it will be waiving the rental charges from resorts that are being used as quarantine facilities for the Covid-19 virus situation. The government will be waiving rental charges for the duration of the period and will also pay rent for every room used.
In a news conference tonight, government spokesperson Mabrouq Azeez gave details of the quarantine facilities arranged by the government for the situation
Mabrouq said that resorts were being acquired under a special agreement and that the government would be paying MVR 750 per room used in each resort.
“Looking at the agreements (between the government and resorts), the agreements allow the government to use these resorts in case of emergency danger. The period of time can be extended if needed. The government does not have to pay any rent to do this.” Said Mabrouq.
The government will not be charged for laundry, electricity, water, room services and cleaning the island under the agreements. Under the agreement, these services are to be provided at the expense of the resort.
“As compensation, it is arranged for the government to pay for every room of each resort (that has two beds and are acquired for government use) MVR 750.” Said Mabrouq.
When taking into account the costs per head, (MVR 350 per head) Mabrouq said that this was not a huge figure but was a huge one when taking into account the number of people in the facilities. According to Mabrouq, 550 people are in these facilities. A total of MVR 5250 will be spent by the government per person in quarantine in the 14 day period.
Taking into account these figures the government will spend MVR 206,250 per day for the 550 people in these facilities. For the 14 day quarantine period, it will cost the government a total of MVR 2,887,500.
A total of ten facilities are established in the country for the purpose of keeping people. The country has confirmed 13 cases of the virus so far out of which five have made full recoveries.
