The authorities constantly monitor the situation regarding a possible importation and spread of coronavirus COVID-19 in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The full range of measures for preventing the importation of this dangerous infection has been approved in the DPR, Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin stated during a special extended meeting on March 18.
“No cases of infection with coronavirus COVID-19 have been registered in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The situation is under constant control,” he said.
According to chief of the DPR Head’s Control Directorate Olga Korol, the person in charge of the Interdepartmental Operational Headquarters for preventing the spread of the new coronavirus infection, medical aid posts have been arranged at the checkpoints.
“They are fit out with the necessary equipment and supplies. The medical aid posts are designed to detect citizens with fever. A plan of action has been worked out for medical workers at these posts. The Headquarters has elaborated additional measures to prevent the importation and spread of the coronavirus infection,” she said.
According to Minister of Health Olga Dolgoshapko, a member of the Operational HQ, there have been no registered, confirmed cases of infection with COVID-19 in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic as of 13:00 Wednesday, March 18.
“The first patient who arrived from the People’s Republic of China was being observed in the infection department. She was discharged today, fully recovered. She did not have this disease, the coronavirus test turned out negative twice, she had a normal body temperature during the whole period of observation.
At the moment, 3 patients are under observation in the infectious disease department: one woman was on a tour in Hungary, the second one in Poland, the third one came to us from the Russian Federation. They contacted primary health care centers themselves. They turned out to be intelligent people and did the right thing. Since they had a temperature above 37.2, they were taken to the infectious disease department. All the three were checked for coronavirus yesterday and the day before, the tests were negative.
There are two people under home observation, self-isolation in Donetsk. One person returned from a business trip, the other was in Thailand. Yesterday, a child was hospitalized under observation in one of our children’s hospitals. His condition is satisfactory, no fever,” she said.
DPR Minister of Health Olga Dolgoshapko stressed that the Ministry has elaborated a plan of measures to address the threat of importation and spread of the coronavirus infection in the Republic. These measures provide for hospital facilities for receiving and providing aid to patients with symptoms of this infection. Two such hospital facilities are already operating now. According to the Minister of Health, these hospital facilities keep a steady supply of necessary medications and materials.
“On March 12, two specialists of epidemiological surveillance completed training. They are now working in a virological laboratory. In accordance with the Order 273 of the Ministry of Health as of February 11, the infection caused by COVID-19 is on the list of especially dangerous infections, which gives the right to announce special measures in the case of emergency. A step-by-step plan for preventing the importation and spread of coronavirus infection has been elaborated, it provides for all measures for the possible scenario,” she said.
Olga Dolgoshapko reported that the Ministry of Health established an operational headquarters and opened a 24-hour hotline.
Then, the Head of the Republic addressed Deputy Minister of Education and Science Viktor Varyukhin,
“A certain situation has occurred, related to the remote education process due to the premature announcement. Today, the final decision on remote education will be made. I ask the Deputy Minister of Education and Science to express his position. Are you for or against, do we have technical possibilities for it?”
According to Viktor Varyukhin, the Ministry of Education and Science has already issued an order allowing flexible attendance in educational institutions for students.
“At yesterday’s meeting of the operational headquarters it was proposed to prepare a regulatory legal act on the transition of our education establishments of secondary vocational education and higher vocational education to remote teaching. This order has been drawn up. The draft order has been sent to the Head’s Administration and the Government. We are ready to switch to remote education,” the Deputy Minister told.
To date, the number of cases of infection with coronavirus COVID-19 officially detected worldwide is about 200 thousand.