DILI, 18 february 2020 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste Commission of prevention and control of direct infectious diseases, Ministry of Health (MoH), has initiated the mass testing for 400 residents in Covalima and Bobonaro municipalities to accelerate detection and find out if there is any local transmissions, said Country’s Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak.
“In the context of conducting mass testing in the two municipalities next to the border area, 400 residents have been tested. Of the number 100 people from Covalima and 300 people from Bobonaro” PM, Taur Matan Ruak, said after meeting with the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo, at the Presidential Palace.
The mass testing is conducting to find out whether there is community transmission in the areas located close to the borders.
According to the PM, the samples test was indicated the 400 residents were negative to COVID-19, stressing that the mass test is still underway with a view to preventing community transmission in both municipalities.
Regarding the Government decision to impose the sanitary fence in the concerned municipalities including Oé-Cusse, PM said the decision was followed the survey data from the Ministry of Health (MoH) on the number of the illegal activities in the borders.
“The Government will make a decision for the extension of the term of the sanitary fence in the three regions after the MoH gather all the tests datas,” he said.
Journalist: Domingos Piedade Freitas
Editor: Zezito Silva