President says Maldives cannot remain as it is for much longer

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that the country cannot remain in its current situation for much longer.

The Maldives has been in a state of Public Health Emergency since early March after the first case of COVID-19 was identified on March 7 which led to a shutdown of schools and government offices in the country.

After 13 more cases were identified on several resorts as well as from returnees from abroad, a community outbreak in the capital Male’ City was identified on April 15.

The case led to a lockdown and curfew on the entire capital area. The virus has now spread to some other inhabited islands in the country as well.

Addressing the nation today, President Solih stated that this was not a situation that the country could remain in.

“There is no way to earn an income nor attend work. Resorts that had received millions of dollars in investors, is empty. Hotels and restaurants have been closed, and the public business hours have been overturned.” Said the President describing the situation that the country was in.

From looking at the work of other countries in order to overcome this virus, the President stated it took these countries around two months to do so. He called for unity to overcome the difficult situation in the country.

“We are working continuously to overcome the situation, recommence our economic activities, and return to our normal state.” Said the President.

President Solih also stated that the situation in the country could worsen in the next two weeks. The work conducted within that period could pave the way for the country to overcome the virus, said the President who advised the public to remain alert and work with extreme care and thought during the next two weeks.