WHO emphasizes on agile response capacities, as South-East Asia Region confirms more COVID-19 cases

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

“Top priority of countries should be to be ready to roll out speedy response to the first case, first cluster, and the first evidence of community transmission. Early containment measures can help countries stop transmission,” said Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

Five of the 11 countries in the Region have confirmed COVID-19 cases – Thailand 43, India 28, Indonesia 2 and Sri Lanka and Nepal one each.

“The risk of the new coronavirus is very high across the world and in WHO South-East Asia Region. More cases can be expected. Rapidly identifying these cases, isolating them and following their contacts are important initiatives to help limit person to person transmission. The speed of our response is critical, which is only possible if we are prepared,” the Regional Director said.

Infection prevention and control is of critical importance in health facilities for COVID-19.

Outlining preparedness and response measures and capacities in the WHO South-East Asia Region, Dr Khetrapal Singh said, WHO is assisting countries in preparedness and response planning, in coordination with other partner organization; as per updated global guidelines. All member countries have rolled out a series of measures to prevent the disease and protect their nationals.

Nine of the 11 countries now have capacities to test for COVID-19. WHO is supporting countries with supplies for laboratories. For countries unable to test, WHO is assisting in shipping of their samples to global referral laboratories, three of them in the Region – two in Thailand and one in India.

Globally, WHO is constantly analyzing data, as more information comes in, and is working closely with global experts to better understand transmission, risk factors, and source of the infection.

Original source: WHO
Published on 04 March 2020