President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has declared the Maldives will move to a new phase in the fight against COVID-19, from July 1 onwards.
A statement released by the President’s Office read that under the new phase, the main responsibilities hitherto entrusted to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) will be shifted to the Ministry of Health.
President Solih visited NEOC on June 29 and spoke with the staff based there who have been working to coordinate the overall response of the Maldives to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to meeting with separate NEOC sections and work-stations, he delivered a few remarks, thanking them collectively for their hard work, on behalf of himself and Maldivian citizens.
In his remarks, the president noted NEOC represents the largest multi-sectoral government operations centre ever established in the Maldives, underscoring the unprecedented challenges that the virus forced the country to confront. He acknowledged that the efforts of NEOC to implement the emergency responses of the government, under the overall guidance of the health authorities, are largely why the Maldives successfully averted a healthcare disaster and kept most of the population safe from the virus.
Whilst delivering remarks, the president noted moving to this new phase is part of the overall strategy of the government to steer the country towards a 'new normal'. He stated the support and hard-work of everybody will still be crucial in this new stage, in order to successfully overcome the pandemic.