Coronavirus: WHO asks countries in South-East Asia region to strengthen preparedness

With India, Indonesia and Thailand confirming new cases of COVID-19, World Health Organization on Wednesday asked countries in its South-East Asia region to strengn preparedness for all possible scenarios and ensure early containment measures.

"Top priority of countries should be to be rey to roll out speedy response to first case, first cluster, and first evidences of community transmission. Early containment measures can help countries stop transmission," Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director of WHO South-East Asia Region said.

Five of 11 countries in region have confirmed vel coronavirus cases -- Thailand 43, India 28, Indonesia two and Sri Lanka and Nepal one each.

risk of new coronavirus is very high across world and in WHO South-East Asia Region. More cases can be expected, Singh said while stressing on identifying m early and isolating m and following ir contacts to help limit person-to-person transmission.

Singh said re are three priorities for country reiness – protecting health workers, engaging with communities and empowering m with timely and accurate information to enable m take protective measures, specially those at highest risk; and "doing our best to contain epidemics in most vulnerable countries".

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virus can cause mild, flu-like symptoms as well as more severe disease. Patients have a range of symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Based on current data, globally 81 per cent of cases seem to have mild disease, about 14 per cent appear to progress to severe disease, and some five per cent are critical.

People can protect mselves and prevent spre of virus by practising hand hygiene, covering ir cough and sneeze, maintaining distance from ors if y are sick and from those who are sick, she said.

Outlining preparedness and response measures and capacities in WHO South-East Asia Region, Singh said WHO is assisting countries in preparedness and response planning, in coordination with or partner organisations as per updated global guidelines.

All member countries have rolled out a series of measures to prevent disease and protect ir nationals.

Nine of 11 countries w have capacities to test for vel coronavirus. WHO is supporting countries with supplies for laboratories. For countries unable to test, WHO is assisting in shipping of ir samples to global referral laboratories, three of m in region -- two in Thailand and one in India, she said.

Nearly 3,00,000 pieces of personal protective equipment comprising caps, goggles, surgical masks, gloves, gowns, etc., have been supplied to member countries, and nearly 2,00,000 more pieces are being procured.

On February 28, WHO raised risk assessment for COVID-19 outbreak internationally from "high" to "very high" nearly a month after vel coronavirus was declared a public health emergency of international concern – WHO's highest level alarm. 

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