The opposition coalition has called for the government to fully and promptly publicize information on the country's coronavirus situation.

The opposition, comprised of Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), released a press statement on Friday which highlighted the recent discovery of a suspected case of corona virus infection in the country. The opposition further called on the government to fully publicize all the latest information on the virus, take all necessary preventive measures, and quickly make easily accessible arrangements for testing.

The opposition also appealed for more stringent preventive measures, especially in schools and public places as children, the elderly and persons with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of the infection.

Moreover, they urged the public to take individual steps to safeguard against the infection, adding that the safety and well-being of the nation has always been a priority of the coalition.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a global emergency following the novel coronavirus outbreak originating from China.