Coronavirus response efforts going on well

The National Health Emergency Operations Centre (NHEOC) is working around the clock in efforts to contain a possible entry of the deadly coronavirus in the country.

NHEOC confirmed in its second situation report saying, health promotion staff have been deployed to Rennell island to support community awareness there.

The national response efforts in the country, information, education, and communication (IEC) materials have been developed to support ongoing community awareness about the coronavirus, and related health issues.

Guadalcanal and Honiara City Council Health Promotion Officers have undergone risk communication training as of 10 February.

According to the assessment done at the National Referral Hospital, 12 isolation rooms and four Intensive Care Units (IUC) have been identified and allocated in preparation for the ongoing coronavirus response.

WHO, DFAT and officers from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services conducted the assessment for potential clinical management alternatives.

Meanwhile, World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed, China has reported a total of 72,528 cases of the coronavirus as of 6 am yesterday morning.

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a media conference held in Geneva yesterday.

Speaking to journalists from around the world, Dr. Ghebreyesus said a total of 1,850 deaths have also been reported by China.

“As of 6 am Geneva time this morning, China has reported 72,528 cases to WHO including 1,850 deaths. In the past 24 hours, China has reported 1,800 new cases including both clinically and lab-confirmed cases. Outside China, there are now 804 cases in 24 countries with three deaths”.

He says, there had been 110 new cases of the coronavirus recorded outside China in the past 24 hours.

“In the past 24 hours, there had been 110 new cases outside China including 99 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. We have now had cases of COVID-19 outside China for more than a month. We’re supporting national authorities in every country that has cases to track the virus and understand how people were infected. So far there are 92 cases in 12 countries outside China or human to human transmission”.

Currently, there’s no recorded cases in the Solomon Islands.