March 18, 2020
Ministry of Health and Sports held the central-level daily meeting 36/2020 on COVID-19 virus prevention, control and treatment at the ministry in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Speaking at the meeting, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe has stressed the need to scale-up aggressive measures to prevent the virus infection as the situation of the COVID-19 outbreak is evolving rapidly.
The health authorities are beefing up surveillance at the international airports to find out possible virus carriers from the countries which are facing the COVID-19 outbreak and are also taking measures to lessen the number of travellers from the countries.
The Union Minister highlighted the outbreak countries’ strategies to combat Coronavirus infection, stressing the need to be ready to respond possible situations of the infection after seeking permission from the
The countries facing the outbreak of COVID-19 have suspended and reduced the flights, locked down the towns, closed the schools and banned the public gathering and postponed the international conferences.
The Union Minister has called on authorities to make more efforts for medical facilities and raising public health measures as the current window of opportunity with no infected patient can shut any time.
He welcomed daily video conferencing between the central body and region and state level health authorities, calling an effective step to prevent and control the virus infection.
The Ministry would announce the answers to the frequently asked questions about the COVID-19.
To raise health awareness about the COVID-19 among the inmates and people in conflict areas, the ministry is obliged to compile the directives for the COVID-19 prevention and to send it to the ministries concerned.
He also stressed the need to immediately scale up current efforts of surveillance with non-contact thermetres to the MPs at the Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw.
He also confirmed that the Ministry would suspend or reduce its meetings and conferences, or will hold tele conference or video conferencing instead.
The Union Minister urged the health authorities to make necessary preparations for receiving the Myanmar overseas workers who will return next month from the outbreak countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, stressing the need for the workers to practice self-initiated isolation and to inform the health authorities in case of suspected symptoms.
He also advised ministries concerned to provide hand washing facilities with hand sanitizer at the places including pagodas which attracts crowds to prevent infection.
The meeting came to an end with discussion by the participants about regional situation, condition of patients quarantined at hospitals and kept under watch, surveillance at international airports and border gates and needs for medical equipment.—MNA (Translated by TTN)
