Prime Minister examines preparedness of hospitals

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On February 17, Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh visited some hospitals to examine their preparedness and readiness against spread of novel coronavirus. A total of 200 beds have been prepared in the National Center for Communicable Disease, 50 beds in the Central Military Hospital and another 65 beds in the State Central First Hospital for the risky condition of novel coronavirus infection. In urgent cases, it ensured preparation to fully isolate the Central Military Hospital and to transfer the infected patients to the hospital within half an hour. Preventing from COVID-19 spread, hospitals are operating 24 hours in the state of emergency. In connection with outbreak of COVID-2019 originated in China, the World Health Organization evaluated risk in Mongolia three times. By the latest evaluation conducted on February 11, Mongolia is included in risky region, where novel coronavirus infection can be transmitted and spread into the country. During his meeting with health professionals, PM U.Khurelsukh pledged to give overtime salary to physicians, nurses, hospital attendants and staffs who are working on alert and said the funding will be resolved at the Cabinet meeting to be held on this Wednesday. Authorities of the National Center for Communicable Disease (NCCD) put a request to provide new ambulance vehicles as the hospital lacks of ambulance for urgent calls of infectious diseases. Minister of Health D.Sarangerel made a decision on the spot to provide three UAZ- vans to the NCCD. Moreover, since COVID-19 infection leads to acute respiratory disease and kidney failure, it was decided to additionally order respiratory apparatus and dialysis machine with financing of MNT 4.2 billion from the Asian Development Bank and supply them to the NCCD on February 25. Diagnosis on suspected citizens with COVID-19 is being made in a laboratory of the NCCD at the same level with infectious disease research laboratories in the United States and Japan. Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh expressed his gratitude to the hospital professionals who are working 24 hours to prevent coronavirus infection. He said “Our citizens have to be responsible for their own health, safety of their children, elders as well as for the national security and independence. This is a duty of every Mongolian. Every one should wear face mask and not to celebrate Tsagaan Sar. I hope that the infectious disease can be not spread in our country if every single person, household and entity takes preventive measures together against the deadly disease and combat together. Therefore, I am calling for our citizens to be responsible and execute their duties.” As of February 17, 2020, the number of coronavirus infected citizens reached 70.533 in China with 1767 dead and infection hass been detected in 26 countries.