President Solih, PM Modi discuss ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Monday morning, discussed the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a phone call.

Following the phone call, PM Modi tweeted that "India will stand by its close maritime neighbour and friend in this challenging time".

According to the President's Office, the two leaders updated each other on "their countries’ respective situations" amidst the virus outbreak and "the measures they are taking in response".

The president and PM spoke about the precautionary steps being taken such as increasing the availability of resources for the immediate health response, and enhancing the capacity of healthcare facilities to accommodate an increase in patients, in addition to the closure of borders, mandatory social-distancing and isolating positive cases to break the chain of community transmissions.

President Solih also discussed the possibility of securing additional assistance from India in the efforts to contain COVID-19 in Maldives.

Speaking of the economic repercussions caused due to the pandemic, both leaders touched upon measures that can be taken to mitigate the immediate damage, support national budgets and stimulate economies once the outbreak is contained.

Moreover, President Solih praised PM Modi's early initiative to establish a voluntary COVID-19 fund to financially assist the countries of South Asia, and expressed gratitude for the direct assistance the Indian government has provided Maldives, such as evacuating Maldivians in Wuhan, China, the visiting medical team from India, and facilitating the transfer of essential supplies from India to Maldives.

President Solih ended the call wishing PM Modi well in his efforts to contain the virus in India, a sentiment that was reciprocated by the Prime Minister as well. Modi also wished the president and citizens of Maldives a blessed holy month of Ramadan, due to begin later this week.