novel coronavirus 2019

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public

Health, India, international, News 30 January 2020

Govt. of India, Health reviews the preparedness of States/UTs on Coronavirus

pl. Secretary, Health reviews the preparedness of States/UTs on Coronavirus through video conference New Delhi, 30th January 2020. Sanjeeva Kumar, Special Secretary (HFW) chaired a video conference (VC) with Health Secretaries of states with 21 identified airports along with theAirport Health Organization Officers (APHOs), Health Secretaries of the states bordering Nepal (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim) and other states/UTs. He reviewed their preparedness for prevention and management of coronavirus. Dr. Rajiv Garg, DGHS and senior officials from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and NCDC were also present during the Video Conference. corona virus latest update Accordning to a spokesperson of Govt. of India, Spl. Secretary (H) informed that various advisories, and guidelines have already been issued by the Health Ministry to all the States/UTs and regular monitoring on the status of preparedness is being taken place at the highest level. He reviewed the preparedness status of all the States/UTs regarding the following: Airports- States/UTs reported that the thermal and symptomatic screening has been initiated at all identified Airports. Thermal screening sensors are operational and few more such equipment is being procured. The immigration and other staff members at the Airports have been sensitized and dedicated ambulances are placed at the Airports. Deployment of medical & para-medical staff is also being done for round-the-clock service. Self-declaration forms are available and signages are being placed at prominent places at all Airports. Seven central teams have visited the respective states and helped to strengthen the preparedness too. Hospitals- States/UTs reported that isolation wards have been made identified and readied to face any contingency. Personal Protection Equipment and masks are available in adequate quantity in all the States/UTs.States need to regularly assess requirement of personal protection equipment, masks etc., and undertake necessary procurement to ensure sufficient supply. Tertiary hospitals are also identified for these airports and the protocols for contact tracing are followed and timely collection and transportation of samples from suspected cases to NIV, Pune is being done. States bordering Nepal reported that adequate steps have been taken at the land check posts, and people contacts &meetings have been…

Outbreak of new virus in China novel coronavirus 2019

Health, international, News 24 January 2020

#Breaking : Novel coronavirus 2019, All countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management : WHO

Geneva, Switzerland 23 January 2020. The meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019 in the People’s Republic of China, with exportations currently reported in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand and Singapore, took place on Wednesday, 22 January 2020, from 12:00 to 16:30 Geneva time (CEST) and on Thursday, 23 January 2020, from 12:00 to 15:10. The Committee’s role is to give advice to the Director-General, who makes the final decision on the determination of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Committee also provides public health advice or suggests formal temporary recommendations as appropriate. Members and advisors of the Emergency Committee were convened by teleconference. The Director-General welcomed the Committee and thanked them for their support. He turned the meeting over to the Chair, Professor Didier Houssin. Professor Houssin also welcomed the Committee and gave the floor to the Secretariat. On 22 January, representatives of WHO’s legal department and the department of compliance, risk management, and ethics briefed the Committee members on their roles and responsibilities. Committee members were reminded of their duty of confidentiality and their responsibility to disclose personal, financial, or professional connections that might be seen to constitute a conflict of interest. Each member who was present was surveyed and no conflicts of interest were judged to be relevant to the meeting. The Chair then reviewed the agenda for the meeting and introduced the presenters. On 23 January, representatives of the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Thailand and the Republic of Korea updated the committee on the situation in their countries. There have been increased numbers of reported cases in China, with 557 confirmed as of today. Conclusions and Advice on Novel coronavirus 2019 On 22 January, the members of the Emergency Committee expressed divergent views on whether this event constitutes a PHEIC or not. At that time, the advice was that the event did not constitute a PHEIC, but the Committee members agreed on the urgency of the situation and suggested…