President Danilo Medina met with national and Pan American health authorities at the Presidential Palace on Monday, 20 January 2020 to address the risk of carriers of the Wuhan virus entering the Dominican Republic. The Dominican medical teams are following the recommendations of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Among those present for the meeting at the Presidency were Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo, who heads the 911 Emergency System; Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas and the director of the National Health Service (SNS), Chanel Rosa Chupany. The government reviewed the protocols and preventive measures being taken.
Meanwhile, Dominican doctors are recommending to get the H1N1 flu shot, as this is the respiratory illness that is affecting people in this country this winter season. The Dominican Society of Infectology made the comment as the media reports on the spreading of the Wuhan virus (coronavirus).
“We ask people to stay calm and be aware that we have an important number of influenza cases in our country. We recommend getting the proper vaccination against it, and to maintain the normal preventive measures, such as frequent washing of the hands, covering the mouth if coughing or sneezing, and staying at home if you are sick. Do not travel in case of illness.”
The president of the Dominican Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SDNCT), Dr. Ivelisse Acosta said that the country does not have any reason to be alarmed as the risk of contracting the coronavirus is low.
As a preventive measure, health authorities say that two isolation halls have been set up. One will be at the Dr. Ramón de Lara Air Force Base Hospital in eastern Santo Domingo and the other at the Marcelino Velez Santana Regional General Hospital in the National District. The announcement was made by Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas, and the PAHO representative in the country, Alma Morales.
N Digital reports that Dominicans that are studying in China are desperate to return to the Dominican Republic. There are three Dominican students stuck in Wuhan that fear to catch the disease. These are Melisa Santos, Misael Soriano and Jessica Santos. They said they are in contact with the Dominican Embassy in China that is assisting them in their attempt to leave Wuhan.
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N Digital
28 January 2020