Parliament closed for decontamination after staffer tests positive for coronavirus

The Maldivian Parliament has been closed for decontamination after a member of the maintenance staff at the legislative house tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The Parliament’s Media Director Hassan Ziyau confirms the Parliament has been placed under monitoring status by Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Ziyau identified the staff member as a male employee who works at the maintenance department.

“The Parliament has been shut down and measures are being implemented at HPA’s instructions,” he said.

The Parliament's offices have been temporarily closed as officials work on decontamination and contact tracing to identify other people who may have been exposed to the virus through him.

The Parliament had switched to virtual sittings in late March, but decided to discontinue its virtual sittings and resumed regular sittings with masks and social distancing measures on May 26. Committee meetings were recommenced at the Parliament two weeks later on June 8.

Parliamentarians had convened for a sitting and committee meetings this Wednesday as well.

Maldives identified its first coronavirus case on March 7, and declared a state of public health emergency over the pandemic four days later on March 11. It ceased the issuance of on-arrival visas and closed its borders on March 27.

While coronavirus cases had initially been restricted to resorts and safaris, and later quarantine facilities holding inbound travelers, Male’ City identified its first coronavirus case on April 15, prompting a city-wide lockdown and a nationwide ban on nonessential travel.

Maldives has 2,094 confirmed coronavirus cases, out of which 1,670 patients have recovered and eight have died from complications.

34 percent of the 2,094 coronavirus cases in the country are Maldivians, while the remaining 66 percent are foreign nationals. 1,102 people – making for 52 percent of total coronavirus cases – are Bangladeshis. The rest of the coronavirus cases include 727 Maldivians, 194 Indians, 38 Nepalese, and 11 Italians and 11 Sri Lankans.