High Alert for Novel Coronavirus
High Alert for Novel Coronavirus
The Health Ministry reported yesterday passengers arriving from China’s Wuhan city are now subjected to fill out health declaration forms to prevent a breakout of the novel coronavirus in the Kingdom ahead of the Lunar New Year.
According to the Health Ministry’s CDC department, since yesterday evening there have been 581 transmission cases, with 571 in China, four in Thailand, one in Japan, one in South Korea, one in the United States, one in Taiwan, one in Macau, one in Hong Kong and the latest is one in Singapore. It said 17 people have died in China while 30 patients have fully recovered.
The SARs-like virus was first detected in Wuhan.
The World Health Organization reported earlier this week that human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus is possible.
“We have already requested the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation to ask passengers from Wuhan city to complete health declaration forms,” ministry spokesperson Or Vandine said yesterday during a press conference in Phnom Penh. “We have asked the airline crew to distribute the forms to passengers before the planes land.”
“The forms come with health information leaflets, preventive measures and contact numbers of health officials,” she added.
Ms. Vandine said other ministries and institutions must collaborate with the Health Ministry to prevent an outbreak.
“Responding to communicable diseases cannot be carried out by the Health Ministry alone,” she said. “Although the ministry is responsible for ensuring preventive measures, the participation of other authorities are required.”
Ms. Vandine said people visiting cities where outbreaks have been reported must be cautious, especially during the upcoming Lunar New Year this weekend.
She said the Health Ministry has installed thermal scanners in all the international airports in Phnom Penh, Siam Reap and the province of Preah Sihanouk, including the border checkpoints in Svay Rieng, Banteay Meanchey and Kampot provinces.
She said the ministry also prepared rooms to isolate patients in the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh and provincial hospitals in Preah Sihanouk and Siem Reap.
Sin Chansereyvutha, a spokesperson for SSCA, said as of 5 pm yesterday, no passenger arriving in the three international airports in the Kingdom has contracted the virus.
“We have already informed all airline companies to cooperate and follow the Health Ministry instruction,” Mr. Chansereyvutha said.
KHMER TIMES
