Nasheed: Difficult to say that the Covid-19 would not be identified in Maldives

Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has said that it would be difficult to say that the Covid-19 disease would not be identified in the Maldives in the future.

Nasheed was speaking as an emergency motion regarding food stockpiles in the Maldives in case the disease is spotted was presented to the parliament today.

Speaking during the debate time, Nasheed said that the Maldives was part of the world and a disease that was spreading across the globe had a high chance of being spotted in the Maldives as well. Nasheed added that it was not the responsible thing to do to stock up on food piles for fears of the disease.

“The way I see, the virus will come to the Maldives. That it might not happen is very difficult to anticipate. A disease that will not come to the Maldives does not exist in the world; a disease that does not spread to other countries also does not exist.” said Nasheed.

He added that the country’s health system was very used to such diseases. Nasheed said that the country’s health sector had immensely developed since 1940 after collaboration with the WHO began.

He went to highlight the safety measures that can be taken against the disease. 

“Cleanliness, washing the hands and feet, keeping yourself hydrated, are the things to be done against this disease as well,” said Nasheed who also added that these were things taught since school.

Around 93,000 cases of the disease which originated in China last December have been identified globally. The death rate from the disease currently stands at around 3000 while the number of people who have recovered after contracting the disease is number at around 50,800. The disease is thought to be fatal for those with pre-existing conditions and weaker immune systems due to old age.

Despite positive cases being identified in several countries close to the Maldives, no positive cases have been identified in the country so far.