The Ministry of Health and Sports organized a virtual meeting on speeding up containment measures against COVID-19 yesterday.
Speaking at the meeting, Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe said the ministry was responding to COVID-19 by effectively using resources preparing for the worst situations as the virus was rapidly spreading in short time.
The virus would be under control only if it is responded without hesitation. Abiding by the central committee’s instructions, the ministry is implementing COVID-19 containment works by considering social, economic, education and political perspectives, the Union Minister said.
He appreciated the participants in the COVID-19 containment process, and stressed the importance of cooperation from social affairs ministers in regions and states to effectively carry out the virus containment processes on the ground.
Contact tracing is the most effective and important prevention strategy at present.
Officials are telephoning those who recently visited Rakhine State, and cooperation from the public is needed, he added.
The ministry is also undertaking prevention and monitoring works at transit centres, reception camps and IDP camps in Rakhine State to prevent from the spread of coronavirus.
The Central Epidemiology Unit is analyzing the rapid spread of the virus in the country by making daily discussions with relevant officials from regions and states and is reporting the findings and requirements to relevant department heads at a punctual manner.
The ministry will immediately carry out the works that can be done by the ministry alone, and the tasks that the ministry can’t implement will be reported to the central committee in time. Special flights are transporting medical professionals and medical supplies to Rakhine State, and the ministry is increasing its testing capacity to detect more infected persons with no symptoms.
After updating current guidelines and rules and regulations on coronavirus in accordance with additional findings, types of infections and changing symptoms, they will be distributed to regions and states, he added.
Head of Rakhine State Public Health and Medical Services Department Dr Sai Win Zaw Hlaing and central survey team leader Director Dr Nyan Win Myint discussed the matters relating to random testing with rapid test kits, additional testing with PCR machine to those who tested positive and COVID-19 control processes in Rakhine State.
Sittway General Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Zaw Lwin reported on the situations of medical treatments, patients, intensive care units, and ventilators at the hospital, and heads of the departments from other regions and states detailed about the conditions of patients, treatments and quarantining at the relevant hospitals. Rector of University of Medicine 1 Prof. Dr Zaw Wai Soe reported on this morning’s discussions with clinical professors, and other matters including security, internet connection and foods.
The attendees discussed increasing of testing with PCR machines and GeneXpert machines, and Director-General of Medical Research Department prof. Dr Zaw Than Tun and Deputy Director-General (Disease Control) Dr Thanda Lwin detailed about telephoning those who travelled to/from Rakhine State.
Central Epidemiology Unit Director Dr Toe Thiri Aung reviewed the situation of COVID-19 outbreak in Myanmar, and medical superintendents of Thandwe People’s Hospital and Kyaukpyu People’s Hospital reported on the conditions of patients and medical treatments at the hospital. In the afternoon, officials discussed updates of current COVID-19 guidelines and rules and regulations based on the additional findings, types of infections and changing disease symptoms.
MNA
(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)
PHOTO: MNA
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