On the epidemiological situation on coronavirus as of January 30, 2020

Today, the Minister of Healthcare Yelzhan Birtanov spoke to the journalists of the leading TV channels and information agencies of the country on the sanitary and epidemiological situation in Kazakhstan.

The topic of the report was:

- prevention of coronavirus;

- hospitalization of citizens with suspected viral disease;

- measures taken by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan to prevent the spread of the virus on the territory of Kazakhstan;

- Establishing contact with visitors from the PRC after January 6, 2020;

- position of the World Health Organization;

- refutation of disseminated fake information.

We present to your attention some quotes from the Minister's speech.

GENERAL SITUATION:

“We have all the medications for maintenance therapy. The diagnostic algorithm has been adjusted. As usual, the country has a fully prepared network of infectious diseases hospitals with isolation boxes, with qualified doctors and nurses. "

QUESTION ABOUT PROTECTIVE MASKS:

“There is a national reserve: 5 million masks. Medical facilities are fully provided. Annual consumption by retail is 500 thousand. We will ask akims to control the prices for masks in pharmacies, as well as call on local businessmen to produce and import additional masks. "

MONITORING STATUS OF OUR AND FOREIGN CITIZENS WHO ARRIVED FROM PRC AFTER JANUARY 6, 2020:

“I emphasize, like yesterday, we are talking only about those who came from China since January 6, and not about everyone with a temperature. In the period from January 6 to the present day, 20,515 people arrived in Kazakhstan at the checkpoints across the state border with the PRC. Among them, our citizens are 19 989 and foreigners - 526. We have updated the preliminary data.

At 7 am today, medical specialists in all regions of Kazakhstan called 78% of this number, namely 15,738 people, and asked about the presence of complaints. We continue to call in order to register everyone who has entered the PRC from January 6.

Currently, 54 people have been hospitalized and isolated in separate boxes. Of these, 16 were discharged, 38 people remain in hospitals under medical supervision. We take and send samples from all hospitalized patients for additional control to the National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections. Aikimbaev in Almaty. This center has mastered the technique of PCR diagnostics of the new coronavirus. "

SHOULD KAZAKHSTANTS ARRIVING FROM PRC BE PROVIDED WITH MASKS AT AIRPORTS?

“We have received such a request and will try to do it in the near future. We will also work out the issue with the akimats so that they provide maximum assistance to these our citizens. "

CAN CORONAVIRUS BE EYE TRANSMITTED?

“If you rub your eyes with dirty hands at the usual time, something will definitely happen. This is an elementary rule of hygiene. "

ABOUT RUMORS IN WEST KAZAKHSTAN REGION:

"We refute the audio message circulating in the vatsap that two students were allegedly hospitalized in the region, who allegedly confirmed the coronavirus."

ABOUT RUMORS IN THE EAST KAZAKHSTAN REGION:

“In the East Kazakhstan region there is an anonymous letter without a signature and a seal that, allegedly, a patient with coronavirus has been observed for several days. This is another fake. Diagnostics is currently possible only in Almaty, but not in Semey. "

WHO POSITION:

“Today, at 18-30 Nur-Sultan time, a meeting of the International Health Regulations Committee on Emergency Situations in connection with the outbreak of the new coronavirus will begin. The Committee will provide the Director-General of WHO with an advisory opinion on whether the outbreak is a health emergency of international concern. The decision taken by the Director-General of WHO following the Committee's opinion will be posted on the WHO website and presented during a press conference. The Committee's recommendations will also be made public. Of course, we will study these recommendations very seriously ”.

QUESTION ABOUT LIABILITY:

“We ask journalists and bloggers not to distort the meaning of the statements given, not to interview random people, not to quote rumors and anonymous letters, to show responsibility and professionalism. We urge the population to stop sending "fakes". We recommend that you study the news on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Health, read the state media. "