MP Saeed questions if government trips to islands are related to increased Covid-19 cases

Former Economic Minister and current PNC deputy leader and Maavashu MP Mohamed Saeed. | Photo: Fayaz Moosa.

Male’, Maldives — MP for Maavashu constituency and former Economic Minister, Mohamed Saeed questioned whether officials from government and state owned enterprises traveling from one atoll to another to campaign for the elections has anything to do with the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

While the number of daily positive Covid-19 cases were considerably less during the last months of 2020, since January began, a rise in the number of cases has been observed in the daily confirmed Covid-19 cases in Maldives.

The spokesperson of Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), Dr. Nazla Rafeeg recently addressed the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the resorts, and stated that the rise in the positive cases are due to the lack of Covid testing in the resorts.

Mohamed Saeed, who is also the Vice President of the People’s National Congress (PNC) tweeted targeting spokesperson Nazla’s statement and questioned whether the government and other parties traveling from one atoll to another to campaign for the upcoming elections has nothing to do with the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) had loosened multiple protective measures and curfew towards the end of 2020, which resulted in several people holding and attending  massive events during the start of 2021. The rise of inter-atoll travel pose Covid-19 risks in the country.

The Consultant epidemiologist at HPA, Dr. Sheena Moosa informed that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases are expected to slightly increase this month as the citizens were not cautious enough with simple measures such as social distancing and wearing masks.