Muscat: A health screening will be in place for passengers coming from China or transiting through the People’s Republic of China within a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.

“Each department in the Muscat International Airport recognises their respective roles that they need to follow when dealing with people arriving from China and other countries and regions infected by the Novel Coronavirus,” the Ministry of Health said.

On Monday, a meeting was conducted involving the MoH Director General of DS&C and representatives from the Public Authority for Civil Defence & Ambulance (PACDA), Oman Airports, Royal Oman Police (ROP), Oman Air, and Muscat International Airport Services to discuss the health threat posed by the Novel Coronavirus and the actions needed to be taken for the same.

The Ministry of Health stated, “The epidemiological situation of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as well the ministry’s preparedness for a public health emergency and means of risk assessment at points of entry were all highlighted in the meeting. Moreover, the meeting touched upon the Procedures Document involving travellers coming to the Sultanate’s airports, seaports, and land border crossings.”

It should be noted that the MoH, in coordination with other stakeholders, has initiated precautionary and preventive actions at the various points of entry (air, sea, and land). Procedures require the healthcare workers at the points of entry to conduct triage for China arrivals, and distribute notification form for arrivals through the different PoE, that consist of information about the date of travel and the presence of respiratory symptoms.”

“In addition to conducting health screening for those coming directly from or transiting through the People’s Republic of China within a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, if any traveller is found to be symptomatic and with compatible travel history, arrangements are made for screening tests in designated health institution.”

“The Ministry hence affirms that the previous procedures are involving travellers who declare travel history to or transiting through the affected country (China) within past 14 days in line with the recommendations of international organizations, stressing that a suspected Novel Corona virus (2019-nCoV) case shall be transferred to healthcare facilities for laboratory investigation samples collection,” they added.

Meanwhile the Directorate General for Health Services (DGHS) of Muscat Governorate, represented by the Private Health Establishments Department conducted a workshop to raise awareness about Novel Coronavirus, in order to take precautionary measures and knowing the working mechanism to be followed for private health institutions. The workshop was conducted in the ballroom of the Oman College of Health Sciences in Al Wattayah.

More than 400 participants of the medical category and private sectors attended the workshop. The workshop highlighted the ways of dealing with suspected cases of Coronavirus, in the private and the government health institutions and giving appropriate healthcare.

The Ministry of Health stated, “Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention methods were stressed at the workshop. Moreover, several topics were discussed related to the disease’s epidemiological situation globally, national preparedness and response plans at various levels of care in the private health institutions of the Governorate, as well the preparedness at points of entry and epidemiological surveillance mechanism.”

“Dr Tahira bint Mohammed Ali, Director of the Private Health Establishments in the Directorate stressed that this workshop came within the preparedness of the Ministry in handling the new Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China, pointing to the importance of the role of the private health sector with the government sector in tackling the virus and the response of public health emergency,” they added.

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