Nay Pyi Taw March 30
A coordination meeting on prevention of COVID-19 pandemic, treatment of infected patients and provision of other requirements for the people, Tatmadaw members and families was held under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior GeneralMin Aung Hlaing at the meeting hall of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, here, this morning.
Present were Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Deputy Commanderin-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Mya Tun Oo, Commanderin-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin AungSan, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw and senior military officers.
In his keynote address, the Senior General said the COVID-19, global pandemic, started in Wuhan in China in December 2019. So, it is called Wuhan virus. Now, thevirus is spreading in various parts of the world. WHO declared the virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was designated as highly infectious or virus that needs mandatory reporting on 28 February. On 11 March, it was declared a pandemic. According to reports up to 30 March morning, 721,562 persons of 199 countries including Myanmar have been infected, and 33,965 died of the virus. Tatmadaw has been constantly monitoring the latest developments of the virus since it outbreak in Wuhan, and taking into account all possible means, and announced the postponement of the 75th Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Day Parade, which is of vital importance for the Tatmadaw, on 1 March. Even at the world’s top countries like the US and Italy, infection and mortality rates are high. The Tatmadaw cannot exist alone in the country. It is providing assistance in conducting preventive measures at the public places to protect the lives and property of the people. So, the progress of work and requirements should be discussed here.
Participants then took part inthe discussions. In the discussions, they said that under the close supervision of the Senior General a study of the virus and calculations has been made since December 2019 when the infection started in Wuhan; that preventive measures, awareness campaigns and treatment programmes have been carried out since January 2020; that designated hospitals were also arranged to treat suspected patients and confirmed patients, as well as quarantine; that adequate number of hospital equipment including masks were arranged; that 58 kinds of medicines that may be needed in curing the patients have been provided to the respective units and stocks are also available. They also presented the arrangement of test kits, automatic testing equipment and necessary lab equipment, issuance of preventive measures, travel restrictions, rules, orders and directives at the courses for other ranks, officers and cadets of the Tatmadaw training schools, preparations for prevention, awareness and treatment, arrival and departure arrangements for staff of factories, production and distribution of hand gel and anti-virus agents, arrangements of cars, trains, aircraft, helicopters and vessels and security measures.
In response to the reports, the Senior General instructed officials to strictly follow the issued orders, directives and disciplines, and not only trainees but also all servicemen and families to systematically take regular physical exercises and sports activities and consume nutritious foods. He urged them to keep reservation of 2,000 beds for isolated patients and other patients at the transit centre in Yangon and 15,000 beds at the transit centre in Nay Pyi Taw and extend more accommodation for admitting patients for giving treatment at military units, departments and buildings of the Tatmadaw. Among the factories with cent per cent investments of Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Limited, the factories must reduce 50 percent production of products till the end of April except foodstuffs and essential products.
The factories being operated with foreign investments and those of joint venture must be coordinatedfor production based on their desires. All servicemen and staff must systematically live in their houses and halls and strictly abide by restrictions and disciplines for travelling. Preparations must be made for using vessels Thanlwin, Myitkyina and Mottama from theTatmadaw (Navy) as hospitals.
In his conclusion speech, the Senior General said the Tatmadaw is the firmest institution of the State. Especially, the Tatmadaw members who must safeguard the people in all emergency times of the country must be healthy and fit. The COVID-19 prevention, containment and treatment national level central committee was formed to operate its duty and functions. As medical doctors, nurses and health staff from the people’s hospitals under the Ministry of Health and Sports are discharging duties for treatment without taking a break, specialists, medical doctors, nurses and medical staff trained by the Tatmadaw must give a helping hand to them in taking preventive measures against the disease for the people.
It is necessary to take special care of public places, monasteries with a large numbers of the Sangha and nunneries and donate rice, edible oil, gram and medicines. Likewise, healthcare services must be given to those from Christian churches, Hindu temples and mosques.
Necessary assistance must be provided to hospitals and clinics from respective military units and headquarters without interruption of connection. It is necessary to systematically supervise entry and exit at the military units in line with the prescribed disciplines. Myawady TV channels, radio transmission stations, daily newspapers and online web portal are to report true news in real time for the people, servicemen and families and not to believe fake news, rumours and guessed information.
Any person infected by COVID-19 disease and by virus was not found till today. Six other ranks and 18family members as suspected persons, who returned from abroad and who had met with returnees from foreign countries, are put into hospital quarantine and 29 officers, 11 other ranks and three dependants, totalling 43 into home or facility quarantine.
