The daily central coordination meeting on preparedness and response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) held meeting No. 41/2020 yesterday.
In his address to the meeting, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe said they will upgrade the central command centre from this day to better manage and facilitate engagement with COVID-19. He said they must amend their current strategies for the virus as 3 imported cases have arrived in Myanmar.
He said thousands of Myanmar migrant workers from Thailand returning home in groups is a dangerous scenario as it can help spread COVID-19. He said state/regional medical officials must place containment strategies in place with that fact in mind.The Union Minister said this mass return is a unique phenomenon and the regional office of WHO will be contacted for assistance. He said the people returning should cooperate in quarantining themselves for 14 days and following MoHS guidelines closely to prevent the spread of the virus.
He said following instructions and guidelines for home, facility and hotel quarantines is the most effective method for containing the virus. He said township doctors, health officials, general administration staff and local elders should help disseminate these crucial facts loud and clear in their communities.
The Union Minister said they have uploaded a set of clear instructions and guidelines regarding COVID-19 to relay to the public with megaphones on their website. He said they will soon begin daily reminders for key actions for suggestions and collaborate with state/regional authorities for distribution of medicines, medical equipment and protective equipment. He said they will also upload details of public donations on their website and update it daily.
The Union Minister said they have formed a COVID-19 email group with senior ministry officials to quickly and effectively disseminate news and information on the virus and will include state/regional chief ministers and social affairs ministers soon.
He said they will soon begin community-based facility quarantine for Myanmar nationals returning from work in Thailand and the ministry will issue detailed guidelines regarding the matter and expects local residents and ward/village administration officials to work together to enforce them. A quarantine map will be drawn and local doctors will collaborate with residents and administrators to check up on quarantined persons regularly.
The Union Minister said if additional positive cases develop, the ministry will notify the public of their history of places visited and transportation used so that those who have been in close contact will be aware and proper containment measures can be taken.
The meeting then commenced with discussions on global infection and mortality rates, state/regional processes, the status of the 3 COVID-19 positive patients, preparations for community-based facility quarantine, findings from a field inspection at Myawady border checkpoint by a team led by the director-general of the Union Minister’s office, plans to collaborate with Ethnic Health Organizations, and inviting newly-graduated health officials, midwives and volunteers for assistance.—MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
