2 April
Health authorities have taken measures to prevent and control the spread of the COVID-19 infection since January, having reviewed and fine-tuned the strategies in response to the changing situation.
Today, the health authorities in regions and states, in cooperation with local administrative officials, have tightened quarantine measures with systematic facility quarantines for those who returned from foreign countries, especially from neighbouring Thailand, which is also witnessing the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease.
With the use of checklists, the regulations on facility quarantine for the returnees is to be enforced, and those who violate quarantine measures are to be punished according to the law.
In this time of crisis, resource management and mobilization is paramount to tackle the challenges, in the face of the global pandemic.
The upcoming four weeks are to be very important for our country in fighting the COVID-19 infection. Hence, if all hands from the governmental and private sectors are on deck to effectively carry out the preventive and treatment measures during the coming four weeks, we can effectively minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, after tracking contacts with confirmed COVID-19 patients, authorities are also imposing home quarantine with travel restrictions on those who had close contacts with patients, in order to prevent further infections.
At the same time, those who finish the 14-day quarantine are considered free from the virus, and people should avoid discriminating against them.
We should not forget to express our thanks to those following the rules by quarantining themselves, and to encourage them to keep up their good work in this difficult situation, instead of being subject to more aggravations.
Because they are also frontline prevention warriors helping the nation fight the disease. They are isolating themselves for the safety of the public and should not be subject to discrimination. At the same time, the news media is advised to avoid coverage which might give people the impression that a legion of quarantine breakers is running amok in public, and which can discriminate against health workers who are giving their all on the front line during the battle against the outbreak.
Today is a time when we all should have more sympathy and understanding, as the pandemic does not seem to be going away any time soon.
GNLM
