SINGAPORE, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Singaporean President Halimah Yacob said in her National Day message here Friday that as long as Singaporeans unite, Singapore will be able to overcome the challenges from the COVID-19 crisis and emerge stronger.
In a video posted on Facebook, Halimah said that since the start of the year, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions to various aspects, from healthcare and economy to work arrangements and social activities in Singapore.
"This is not just a health, but also an economic crisis," she said.
While Halimah credited the relentless efforts of its frontline fighters in helping stabilize the situation in Singapore, she said the pandemic is "far from over."
She noted that companies, workers and families will face difficulties ahead, and urged everyone to find ways to overcome the challenges individually and collectively.
Halimah said she was heartened to see how many Singaporeans came together and mobilized resources to help one another during the difficult period.
Noting that while Singapore's progress as a nation over the years has been a strong buffer against this upheaval, she said, "Even so, we have had to muster all our strengths and resources to mount an emergency response to this global challenge."
The road ahead will not be easy, but Halimah stressed that Singaporeans will need to stay together and mount a united front. "I am confident that together we can emerge as a stronger Singapore," she said.
She added that Singapore's 55th birthday would have been a "milestone year" and a cause for great celebration, if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. But she hoped that people's spirits will not be dampened, despite the fact that the upcoming National Day festivities will be very different from the year before.
Singapore reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 23. As of noon on Friday, the total number of cases in the country reached 54,797. Enditem
