DILI, 12 March 2020 (TATOLI) — Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak said health authorities have begun preparing three sites to isolate, treat and quarantine people for Covid-19.
Timor-Leste is yet to record a confirmed case of the pandemic that’s infected some 124,000 people worldwide. But preparations to isolate and treat the expected influx of patients remain incomplete.
“[The Ministry of Health] is preparing residences in three places. First at Formosa [clinic] for triage; then Vera Cruz for intensive care. And also, if the number of cases increases, [patients] will go to Tibar,” the PM said.
Prime Minister Taur’s announcement is the first time the government has revealed its plans for a triage site; a critical step in ensuring possible Covid-19-affected patients don’t pass on the virus to other patients and staff.
Related news: Timor Bans Travellers Arriving from Covid-19 Hotspots
The Ministry of Health today confirmed a second man suspected of carrying Covid-19 returned a negative result. However, the Ministry of Health (MS) said the test result, returned from a laboratory in Darwin, Australia, should be considered an “interim” finding.
“Since he continues to have symptoms, more samples will need to be tested before we can rule out Covid-19. He remains stable in isolation and his close contacts are being followed-up,” the MS said.
An Italian national was yesterday cleared of the virus, and discharged from isolation.
Related news: Italian Citizen Discharged from Isolation After Testing Negative for Coronavirus
The World Health Organisation yesterday began referring to Covid-19 as a “pandemic” for the first time, citing rapid spread and “alarming levels of inaction” by countries around the world.
More than half of the 124,000 people infected worldwide have now recovered, according to the WHO. However, the number of deaths from Covid-19 continues to climb, at 4,622 as of Thursday, mostly in mainland China (3,169).
A British tourist on holiday in Bali became the Indonesia’s first victim of the virus yesterday.
Journalists: Robert Baird; Cipriano Colo
Editors: Robert Baird; Cancio Ximenes
Translation: Nelia Borges
