In a new campaign, “Applaud for Timorese Heroes”, people are asked to join government workers at 7pm on Tuesday 28 April applauding health and essential service workers for five minutes from “homes, front doors, gardens and balconies.”

"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,” Prime Minster Taur Matan Ruak and UN Resident Coordinator Roy Trivedy said in joint statement released on Friday.

“They're doing an amazing job caring for us and our loved ones in incredibly difficult times,” they said.

The campaign seeks to roll into a weekly event, honouring all health workers, emergency services, armed services, police, delivery drivers, teachers, waste collectors, cleaners, engineers, volunteers, those “who are out there making an unbelievable difference.”

People are also asked to post message, photos and videos of the weekly applause on social media channel and tag them with #Applaud4TimoreseHeroes.

The appreciation campaign comes as Timor-Leste reported one new COVID-19 case on Friday, putting the total number of infections at 24.