President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called for support and cooperation from the public in implementing COVID-19 control measures and containing the spread of the disease in the Maldives.
In a televised address given on May 12, President Solih elaborated on the the country's current situation with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the recent surge of positive cases in the country, the president noted the nation is now obligated to take more stringent measures. Noting the measures cannot be implemented effectively without cooperation from the public, the president urged everyone to work together to subdue the spread of the illness. He added working together is crucial in order to reduce the stress on the healthcare system and prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.
In his remarks, President Solih noted the Maldives is one of the worst affected countries by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of economic damage. He noted although the economy has started to recover with the reopening of borders and easing of certain restrictions last year, the economy still remains in a vulnerable state. He added another lockdown or more stringent measures could bring further damage to the economy, and urged the public to cooperate with the current control measures in place to ensure the situation does not worsen any further.
Speaking further, President Solih conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to all health workers, volunteers, and members of the armed forces for their selfless service to the nation during this pandemic. He also noted May 12 is International Nurses Day and sent his greeting on the occasion to all nurses in the country, expressing his gratitude for their contributions to society.