Parliamentarians to work from home, starting next week

The Maldivian Parliament, on Tuesday, made the decision to have parliamentarians work from home using internet, starting next week.

Parliament Speaker, President Mohamed Nasheed, chairs of parliamentary committees and leaders of the parliamentary groups of political parties convened for a meeting to make a decision regarding holding parliamentary sittings amid the coronavirus pandemic this afternoon.

The Parliament, following the conclusion of the meeting, issued a statement via its official Twitter account announcing the decision to have parliamentarians work from home, starting next week.

With government offices and schools closed, and people urged to stay at home to curb the spread of the virus, the Parliament has not held a sitting this week.

The last sitting was held on Wednesday, March 18, during which Speaker Nasheed said that closing the Parliament at such a critical time would be unwise. He said the Parliament would therefore suspend regular sittings, and convene for sittings when deemed absolutely necessary.

Nasheed provided assurance the Parliament would continue to perform its legal duties, and provide its full support to the government as it combats not just the spread of the virus, but also the economic fallout.

13 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either working or vacationing in resorts or safaris. Of the 13 people, five were from Kuredu Island Resort, two from Sandies Bathala, two from Kuramathi Island Resort, two from Anantara Dhigu, and two from Island Safari-1.

Five have since recovered, but continue to be closely monitored at isolation facilities.

Maldivian health authorities have warned the recoveries of the five patients, and the success in containing the virus so far did not make the risk the virus posed to the general population any less.

People have been urged to remain vigilant and stay at home.