President: Govt. implementing relevant measures against virus

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has reassured the country that the administration is implementing all the relevant measures regarding the situation of Covid-19 in the country, in accordance with the guidance and instructions of local and global medical professionals.

President Solih was addressing the nation regarding the now declared pandemic Covid-19 and the recently identified cases in the Maldives when he made the remarks. The president gave out directives to the general public to refrain from mass public gatherings, not to panic and to work together in adhering to the instructions and advice given by healthcare professionals at this critical time.

Speaking from the President’s Office, president Solih stated that the Maldives had conducted a national risk assessment, identified the depth of the incoming economic impact and shared this information with the public and emphasized the recent WHO declaration that COVID-19, earlier classified as an epidemic, has now been classified as a global pandemic. He also highlighted the medical challenges faced by the global community.

During his remarks, the President noted that the Minister of Health, Abdulla Ameen, announced a Public Health Emergency in the Maldives earlier today following a thorough analysis of the national risk assessment data and under the advisement of the Director-General of Public Health.

Moreover, president Solih also noted the importance of taking individual responsibility in following the directives of healthcare professionals, making a special note to urge all members of the public to uphold the maintenance of their personal hygiene.

He also instructed that any person displaying warning signs of a possible infection should immediately report it to the COVID-19 hotline (1676) and further urged those already in isolation to strictly follow the instructions given by the authorities.

Delivering his address, the President stressed on the resulting impact to the world economy, elaborating on the significant drop between forecasted numbers for the national GDP growth and tourism arrivals prior to the outbreak and now.

The President reassured that the government had no intention to reduce the wages of government employees nor halt any development projects already underway. He emphasized the importance of assisting those in need, especially in the health sector and extended deep appreciation, from himself and the Maldivian people to the health care professionals working tirelessly day and night to help the afflicted and to terminate this pandemic before it takes root further into the community.

Furthermore, the President re-affirmed the governments' commitment to continue providing the public with factually truthful information and stated that the government would keep taking all precautionary measures necessary to protect the people of Maldives.