The Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) organized its second meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw, yesterday.
Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin, in his capacity as the chairman of central committee, updated the situations of COVID-19 which has occurred in over 60 global countries, and called for effective measures.
At the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 19 February, China requested its partner countries to avoid excess control measures not to hurt people to people relations, trade and investments.
Citing the instructions of Myanmar State Counsellor, the Union Minister also discussed bringing back of Myanmar illegal migrant workers from China in coordination between the two countries and healthcare services for them at the respective areas of the country.
He also called for finding ways to lessen impacts of the COVID-19 on economy, trade, commerce and employment opportunities.
Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe, in his capacity as the joint chairman of committee, presented the measures of his office against the disease in coordination with relevant ministries across the country, while it has been advised not to organize large public events where screening of disease is to be carried out very tightly.
The Union Minister alerted evolving situation of the virus in the world with the increasing death rate of 3.6 per cent like navigating the way to an uncharted territory.
According to the Situation Report of WHO, most patients (80 per cent) experienced mild illness, approximately 14 per cent in severe disease and 6 per cent in critically ill.
He also remarked the possibility of transmission would decrease due to the decline in influx of visitors from the Republic of Korea, Japan and Singapore.
Dr Myint Htwe also explained that if the cases were found in the country, the patients would be quarantined at the new hospitals which have not been operated, and Waibargi hospital would be used only for the patients with symptoms and suspected cases.
He remarked there are just little chance for spreading the disease through border crossings as there are three medium provinces of Yunnan, Hunan and Guangzhou between the Myanmar border and Hubei province which was the centre of Coronavirus outbreak.
He also explained early case detection, isolation and treatment and table top exercises of his ministries.
Officials at the meeting also discussed the control measures of their agencies with awareness programme.
Union Minister U Kyaw Tin made a concluding remark on the discussions and suggested to follow the rules and recommendations of WHO and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe discussed the benefits from forming the central committee in the country and availability of primers and probes received from Japan for laboratory tests on the virus.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers, government ministers from three States and Regions, Permanent Secretaries of relevant ministries, Directors-General and senior officials.
MNA
(Translated by Aung Khin)
Ref;The Global New Light of Myanmar
Photo: MNA