3 March
Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe presided over a coordination meeting of health authorities for prevention of COVID-19 at his office in Yangon yesterday.
At the 27/2020 meeting, the Union Minister discussed the World Health Organization’s Situation report 39 and 40 which were released on 28 and 29 February.
The reports said a total of 53 countries are experiencing the outbreak of COVID-19,with the increasing death rates in South Korea, Italy and Iran. The WHO also increased the assessment of the risk of spread and risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at the global level.
The Union Minister added that Myanmar is following the recommendations of WHO for the countries which have not encountered the disease.
The Basic Health Staff members from Bago and Ayeyawady regions and veteran experts of Myanmar Health Assistance Association have joined the health worker team for screening inbound travelers at the Yangon International Airport.
The MoHS has suggested denying permit for landing of a cruise ship to Myanmar ports as it was scheduled to arrive in the country on 4 March with over 800 passengers and crew members, and the vessel was supposed to visit the countries where COVID-19 was found.
The ministry has also supplied necessary medicines and equipment to the intensive care units of hospitals in States and Regions, and instructed for disinfection at the outpatient wards and emergency units of the hospitals.
Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe also advised to promote public awareness programmes and conducting surveys on their knowledge about the disease, to make ready for medical treatments at the new healthcare facilities in States and Regions and to coordinate with relevant ministries and social organizations in disease control measures.
A total of 7 students, who arrived back from Daegu city of South Korea to Myanmar, are now quarantined at the Waibargi hospital in Yangon.
The Union Minister, together with his Deputy Minister Dr Mya Lay Sein, attended the meeting at the office of Public Health and Medical Services of Yangon Region on the effective use of a water bus donated by the Tint Tint Myanmar Group of Companies for mobile health care services in Ayeyawady Region.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
