Bhutan is taking all precautionary measures and is monitoring the developments of the outbreak of coronavirus in neighbouring countries.
Amidst reports of the coronavirus affecting countries in the region, the Health Ministry assured public that the country is prepared in case there is an outbreak.
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The Ministry, according to reports, on Wednesday revealed the national contingency plan which covers screening, prevention, isolation and clinical management of the virus in case of an outbreak.
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The old Mother and Child Healthcare infrastructure at the National Referral Hospital has been identified as the isolation centre in case there is an outbreak.
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Similarly, isolation rooms have also been identified in hospitals in districts where there are points of entry into the country.
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Hospital team for an emergency has also been formed.
At the referral hospital, rooms have been identified for special isolation.
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The infection control system has been stepped up, awareness and advocacy are being stepped up.
In preparation against the outbreak of the virus, health officials together with immigration and police in the border gates have started screening people at the entry point beginning Wednesday.
The officials are using infrared forehead thermometer.
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The Ministry has also urged people to do self-reporting in case they are returning from a country that have confirmed the outbreak of the virus.
Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong, the destinations where Bhutan’s airlines operate, are among the affected countries in the region.
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Foreign media reported that there are two more suspected cases of an outbreak of coronavirus in Nepal after the country confirmed the first case last Friday.
The novela coronavirus which first originated in Chinese city Wuhan is reported to have claimed 106 lives in the city with the number of infections reaching more than 4500 in China.
The city is currently locked down to contain the virus.
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As per reports, the virus seems to have lower fatality rate at 3 per cent compared to 9.6 per cent for the severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The Health Secretary assures that if reported in time, health officials can carry out signs and symptom management of the virus to treat the infected.
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So far no cure has been found for the viral infection.