September 05, 2020

The Ministry of Health and Sports held a coordination meeting at its headquarters in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday to review the control measures against COVID-19.

Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe explained the reason of daily meetings to get information on real situations, to make response in real-time to share experiences in treatments and to reform control strategies.

He added the ministry’s cooperation with the Rakhine State government and other relevant organizations, and recognized the efforts at the hospitals.

A total of 128 health workers are providing volunteer services in Rakhine State until now.

The Union Minister remarked the number of confirmed cases is likely to increase in next one and two weeks, and that the contact tracing to the people who have travel history to Rakhine State.

People who returned from Rakhine State are being investigated and control measures would be carried out especially in the areas where these persons reached.

As 75 per cent of positive cases have no symptoms, the disease has spread rapidly.

He also discussed the need of public participation in contact tracing scheme for the people with travel history to Rakhine State, and advised to increase control measures in other regions and states.

The MoHS is cooperating with the National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 as social, economic, education and politic issues must be considered in addition to healthcare sector.

Medicines and medical supplies are being sent to the Rakhine State by flights, while the state funds for control of COVID-19, financial assistance of UN agencies, international development partners, ADB, World Bank, Gavi, Global Fund, USAID, Access to Health Fund and grants from Japan are being used in control measures; these supplies are also being sent to other areas in addition to Rakhine State.

After the discussion of the Union Minister, senior health officials presented the ongoing situations of COVID-19 at regions and states.

Deputy Minister Dr Mya Lay Sein and Permanent Secretary Professor Dr Thet Khaing Win also presented their discussions.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)