MALE, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Maldives President Ibrahim Solih has set up a National Task Force on Resilience Building and Economic Recovery in order to oversee the re-opening of the country's economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported here Thursday.
"The main purpose of the taskforce is to devise a plan to fast-track economic recovery and revive economic growth with the contribution, recommendation and advice of the stakeholders of all economic sectors, implement the plan and find sources to finance the plan," the President's Office said in an official statement.
The task force will be overseen by the president and consists of working groups on finance, economic recovery and the social sector, all of which are already operational according to the President's Office.
The Working Group on Finance is charged with revising the budget for 2020, securing new finances, and projecting new expenditures and income.
The Working Group on Economic Recovery is charged with formulating relief and stimulus packages, while the Working Group on Social Sector is charged with improving social services and managing externalities such as unemployment, mental health and drug abuse.
The decision to set up a taskforce to oversee the country's post-COVID-19 economic recovery was made after a cabinet meeting on April 13.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced 24 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, including three Maldivian citizens and 21 foreigners, raising the country's total case count to 642.
Maldives is under a State of Public Health Emergency until May 31 while the capital region of Greater Male, which has reported the bulk of confirmed COVID-19 cases, is under lockdown until May 14.
Confirmed cases in Maldives spiked after community transmission was detected on April 15. Officials are expecting another surge in cases in the next two weeks. Enditem
