13 March
The Ministry of Health and Sports held its 33/2020 coordination meeting yesterday afternoon on prevention of COVID-19 with the target of zero case and no death.
Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe explained that the World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic, and made the six recommendations to public to prevent virus transmission, to activate emergency response, to organize public participation in disease control measures, to identify the cases and quarantine confirmed patients, to conduct laboratory tests in the suspected cases and to follow personal hygiene.
The Union Minister added his office is taking serious measures to prevent COVID-19 outbreak and death from this disease, while supplying medical equipment to the health workers who are providing medical treatments to the patients.
He also called for public participation in preventive measures in accordance with awareness programmes and strategic plan of the ministry.
In the last two weeks, the number of cases outside China has increased by 13 times, and countries and territories with the confirmed cases rose by 3 times in the world.
The Union Minister instructed the health authorities to strictly follow the preventive measures from the aspects of public health, epidemiology, social, economy, travel and trade.
He continued saying about medicines and medical equipment for the front line health staff who are in close contacts with the patients.
The MoHS has planned to organize a workshop to exchange views on the existing preventive measures with the participations of relevant ministries, organizations and media.
At the meeting, officials discussed control measures at regions and states, preparations at the hospitals, and surveillance on the disease at the border gates.
They held talks on WHO’s announcement on the disease as an pandemic, increasing new cases in some countries, health conditions of patients under investigations at the referral hospitals, laboratory tests, 14-day quarantine period for the inbound Myanmar citizens, health awareness programmes, video conferencing between national level and sub-national level health officials and accumulation of medicines and medical equipment.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
