President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced changes brought to the restrictions imposed in the Maldives to curb the spread of COVID-19. The eased measures were announced in a press conference held on June 29.
Speaking to the press, President Solih stated the government’s current objective is to restart the economy following the extended lockdown of the capital area, noting the government places great importance on the resumption of businesses as an integral part of the Maldives’ economy. He announced that beginning July 1, 2021, COVID-19 curfew hours in the Greater Male’ region would be from 2000hrs to 0400hrs. All businesses would be allowed to resume operations and provision of services during non-curfew hours, including restaurant dine-in services, gyms and salons. Residents will not require a pass to be outside during non-curfew hours and mosques will resume congregational prayers under strict social distancing rules.
The president further announced that individuals who had contracted and recovered from COVID-19 would be allowed to travel between islands in the Maldives without quarantining for 60 days after recovery. The president also revealed the Maldives would resume welcoming workers and tourists from South Asian countries from July 15, 2021, onwards, subject to the progression of the COVID-19 status in those countries.
Continuing in this vein, the president also acknowledged the difficulties faced due to the constraints of the lockdown, delineating that, to this day, USD 110 million had been disbursed as recovery loans, income support allowance and subsidies for utilities. He announced that businesses, namely small and medium businesses such as guesthouses, salons, gyms and dining outlets, will be allowed to take a further loan from the Bank of Maldives under the government’s economic stimulus package. The USD 24 million programme allows businesses to apply for loans up to USD 650,000. The SME Development Finance Corporation (SDFC) will also initiate a new stimulus programme allowing small businesses to apply for relief loans up to USD 65,000.
President Solih also recapitulated the Maldives’ efforts to create a sustainable, greener economy free of environmental pollutants. He announced that the Maldives had achieved a monumental milestone just this month by becoming the first developing nation in the world to officially discontinue the use of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s). He noted that the Maldives had achieved this milestone 10 years in advance of the previously designated date to discontinue the use of the environmentally harmful chemical.
The project to eliminate the use of HCFC’s in the Maldives was initiated by former President Mohamed Nasheed during his presidency, and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had initiated a programme to eliminate the use of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) in the Maldives during his time as president. President Solih expressed his gratitude to both former presidents for their initiative.
President Solih was joined at the press conference by the Minister of Economic Development, Fayyaz Ismail, and the Minister of Health, Ahmed Naseem.