During a press conference held on Tuesday, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated he did not believe his government had failed in managing the Covid-19 pandemic in Maldives, amid a devastating fourth wave of infections pushing authorities to strengthen restrictions nationwide.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated that the month of May had been the worst since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in Maldives, and acknowledged that a number of lives had been lost to the fatal infection. The President noted that the surge in cases had come following eases given to Covid-19 health and safety restrictions in the month of April, ahead of the Local Council and Women's Development Committee Elections held across the country.
During the press conference, President Solih acknowledged that the month of May had seen Covid-19 fatalities increase exponentially in Maldives, and announced that strengthened pandemic safety measures would be announced on Wednesday. President Solih stated that it was likely these measures would have a negative effect on citizens, especially small and middle income businesses.
The President announced that the government would be issuing utility subsidies for the month ahead, including 30 percent in water subsidies for households alongside electricity subsidies of 40 percent. In addition to this, President Solih stated that water and electricity subsidies would also be enacted in the month ahead, and noted that Bank of Maldives would be unveiling an economic stimulus package in June as well. President Solih went on to clarify that no measures had been discussed thus far to issue moratoriums for student loans, but that the government was considering doing so in light of the pandemic.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih called for support on behalf of the people, to manage the worst of the pandemic and return to normal life within the next two weeks.
During the press conference, Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem touched down on efforts being made by the government to procure Covid-19 vaccines. He stated that the government had already signed an agreement with AstraZeneca Singapore to purchase 700,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, in addition to an agreement with the Serum Institute of India to purchase an additional 200,000 doses of Covishield vaccines. Health Minister Naseem also revealed that the government was no working top procure Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccines from Russia, while the government waited on the arrival of the 900,000 vaccine doses from AstraZeneca Singapore and SII. President Solih later added that the government was having difficulty securing vaccines through bilateral deals, as most countries were donating vaccines through the World Health Organization (WHO)'s COVAX facility. Delays in shipping were also noted as the reason the state had been struggling to acquire vaccines from AstraZeneca Singapore.
However, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih maintained he had full trust in the ministers working inside his cabinet, and stated that they were all working according to his direction. President Solih added that he would not hesitate in shuffling the cabinet if the need arises.
Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem went on to assure that the government was working along multiple fronts to secure Covid-19 vaccines for residents of Maldives in a timely manner, and stated that authorities were now working to specifically reach out to those people that had not received Covid-19 vaccines thus far. He went on to reiterate earlier projections that vaccines would be back in stock in the month of May.
In briefing media on the latest Covid-19 statistics from Maldives, Member of the Technical Advisory Team Dr. Nazla Musthafa noted that the positivity rate in the country's capital and Covid-19 epicenter Male' City had consistently remained between 45 and 50 percent in the ongoing month of May. Dr. Nazla added that it was highly likely that different Covid-19 variants in active transmission, and the eases in pandemic restrictions given earlier, contributed to the surge in Covid-19 cases being observed nationwide at this time. Dr. Nazla revealed that the Maldives' Technical Advisory Group on Immunization was working with foreign counterparts in exploring the possibility of using a different kind of Covid-19 vaccine for as the second dose for a person initially administered the Covishield vaccine.
Dr. Nazla expressed hopes that the infection numbers would be controlled within the next two weeks, and stressed the importance of preventing transmission of Covid-19 to prevent further fatalities from the virus.
In addition to this, President Solih acknowledged limitations in human resources in the battle against Covid-19, while also stating that the situation inside Covid-19 facilities had not spiraled out of control. Health Minister Naseem stated that the government was attempting to hire doctors and nurses from abroad, with some relief to the presently strained healthcare system expected in mid-June.
Despite the best efforts of healthcare workers, who have been working tirelessly for over a year, President Solih stated that the massive increase in Covid-19 cases had been due easing pandemic health and safety measures in the month of April. President Solih added that the current measures were expected to be in effect for almost a month, and requested support on behalf of citizens in controlling the spread of Covid-19.
