A meeting was held through videoconferencing to discuss the situation of COVID-19 outbreak in the regions and states and the implementation of the compulsory face mask community campaign in all townships on 27 November and Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe addressed the meeting.
The Union Minister said due to the different conditions of resources including health and human resources, infection status and geographical situation by region and state it is not possible to carry out with the same work strategy to control the infection. The Central Epidemiology Unit has been researching daily on the international outbreak of COVID-19 disease, mortality rate. He said detailed analysis must be carried out regularly in each state and region and strategies should be revised as necessary. He added the Ministry is doing its best to reduce the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible and will only succeed if it focuses on public participation.
The Compulsory Face Mask Community Campaign aims to raise awareness among the public that “the most important factor in controlling the COVID-19 outbreak is that individuals should adhere to preventive measures”. The Union Minister said it is important to note that COVID-19 is highly contagious and some people have the disease without showing any symptoms, and those who have the disease are more likely to spread the disease to other people. The disease can affect anyone and can be fatal if brought to the hospital only when it is severe. He added only wearing masks and social distancing can effectively prevent the infection and unfollowing the preventive measures is leading to high rates of disease and deaths as well as overcrowding in hospitals and health facilities in developed countries.
He said during the campaign, distributing masks and educating must be done by cooperation between health and general administration staff and volunteers in the mornings and evenings when people are out. Vendors must cooperate with the relevant departments not to allow the seller to enter the market without wearing a mask and face shield as well as not to allow customers to enter the market without wearing a mask. He added to coordinate with the relevant department to charge people who don’t follow the COVID-19 preventive measures.
Afterwards, the Heads of Region/State Public Health Departments discussed the implementation of the COVID-19 preventive and control measure, the situation of the disease infection in prisons and challenges and difficulties during the control work of the disease. Deputy Minister Dr Mya Lay Sein, Permanent Secretary Prof Dr Thet Khaing Win and Director-General for Public Health and Medical Services Department Dr Soe Oo coordinated the meeting.
During the concluding remark, the Union Minister urged to cooperate with relevant government organizations to open shops that sell masks and face shields at affordable prices in the markets and the Ministry will provide as much as possible for the implementation of the work and will present to the National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 for the matters beyond the ability of the Ministry. —MNA
(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)
