International cooperation and collaborative efforts are paramount to overcome the threat of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid.

The Maldives foreign minister stated this during an interview with business news broadcaster CNBC on Tuesday, during which he touched down on the “pressures” facing health care facilities in the Maldives.

He went on to emphasize on the need for more support in boosting services covered by the health care facilities.

Further, the foreign minister stressed that the tourism industry accounts over a quarter of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He stressed that Maldives tourism has heavily felt the impact of Covid-19, weeks before the first positive case was discovered on 7 March.

FM Shahid stated that if the “current trends” continue, the country will be on the path to see an “overall drop” of 35 percent in tourist arrivals. This he said, will lead to a shortfall in government revenue between USD 135.9 million and USD 446.6 million this year.

Taking to Twitter, the minister wrote that the situation “may be bleak” and the prognosis “bad”. However, with determination, courage, commitment and support from partners, Maldives will “overcome this as well”.