H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Saidi, Minister of Health chaired today (Wednesday) the second meeting with the undersecretaries and directors general of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to discuss the latest development of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) at the Ministry's headquarters.
The meeting highlighted the precautionary measures that have been taken by the Sultanate to tackle the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, as well as discussed the preparedness and emergency plans in the land, sea and air entry points and the coordination processes between the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities. The meeting stressed the necessity for the readiness of the public health emergency plans across the Sultanate's Governorates and the importance of the coordination between the health authorities at the level of the Governorates.
In addition, the meeting emphasized the readiness of the private health sector to receive any suspected cases of nCoV and the coordination between them and the MOH health institutions.
"Unfortunately, the Novel Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in China and other countries in the world. No cases of nCoV have been reported in the Sultanate so far" H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Saidi, Minister of Health said.
The Minister pointed out that the Ministry has activated the health emergency plans since this virus was declared, as well as coordinated with all partners on the preparations including the concerned authorities in the border crossings. He also stressed the ongoing coordination between the Ministry of Health and WHO and the GCC health ministers.
Al-Saidi stressed that the Sultanate is fully-prepared to tackle this outbreak and hoped that everyone cooperates with the concerned authorities.
The meeting concluded that all efforts should be united in or outside the Ministry of Health. It affirmed the readiness of central public health laboratories, the provision of required lab reagents, providing the needful training for all medical staff to tackle the nCoV outbreak.
The meeting also recommended to not travel to China unless absolutely necessary and those who came from China must adhere to the instructions provided by the concerned in all border crossings.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) urges all citizens and residents to take the information from the formal statements issued by the Ministry and communicate with it via the MOH Contact Center at (24441999) for any information.
