This joint government and UN campaign will start on Tuesday, 28 April 2020, at 7pm local time. All citizens are asked to join in by clapping for five minutes from their homes, front doors, windows, balconies and gardens to show their respect to the women and men who are in the frontline against Covid-19, including health workers, emergency services, police, armed forces, delivery drivers, teachers, waste collectors, cleaners, engineers, volunteers, and all those who are making a difference. The national clapping event will take place every week on Tuesday at 7pm for five minutes.
“The Applaud for Timorese Heroes initiative is a chance to thank all government, civil society, private sector workers and international partners, staff, and volunteers who are working around the clock to prevent those at risk and treat people affected by coronavirus. We are humbled by the hard work and dedication of all those on the front line. They're doing an amazing job caring for us and our loved ones in incredibly difficult times. Let's put our hands together to publicly show our gratitude each Tuesday", Prime Minster Taur Matan Ruak and UN Resident Coordinator Roy Trivedy said in a joint statement.
People are asked to capture these moments on cameras, and post their messages, photos and videos on their social media channels by tagging #Applaud4TimoreseHeroes. "The social media challenge will uplift the moral of medical workforce, police, armed forces, cleaners and all frontline staffs from across the nation who have been working long and hard in order to protect and care for as many people as they can, an act that the entire nation is grateful for", the joint statement of the government and UN noted.
Timor-Leste has so far registered 23 cases of COVID-19, including one recovered patient.
Worldwide the Covid-19 pandemic has already claimed more than 180,000 deaths and infected almost 2.6 million people in 193 countries and territories. (*)