“We are installing temperature measurement equipment at the 04 de Fevereiro Airport, in the landing areas”, that is, thermometers with sophisticated technologies that can detect increased body temperature at a distance, said Sílvia Lutucuta, on the sidelines of a high-level meeting between the Government and the Global Fund, a partner of the State in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
"At the airport 04 de Fevereiro and others, we are passing on the message to the population of what the warning signs are - very high fever, difficulty breathing, coughing - and what care should be taken", continued the minister, adding that the screening is being carried out by filling out forms, "which will be of notification if there is any alert situation".
According to figures released last year by Jornal de Angola, around 260,000 Chinese (2019) lived in the country, with Angola considered the second largest trading partner in China, where the virus emerged, in the city of Wuhan.
The measures apply, however, to citizens from different countries. "The cases are not registered only in China, we have cases in Europe, America and several countries in Asia and so the measures have to be the same for everyone". All people entering Angola are subject to temperature control and fill out a form in which, in addition to the identification data, they must indicate whether they have any of these symptoms, said the person in charge of the Health portfolio.
In addition to the measures being taken at airports, health professionals are also “being trained” and local surveillance measures are being reinforced at borders, at train stations, on buses and in all places of great agglomeration of people.
In hospitals, isolation areas are also being created to isolate and treat suspected cases, said Sílvia Lutucuta.
In a circular sent, on Friday, to the provincial health directors and directors of national hospitals, the National Directorate of Public Health (DNSP) informed that no suspicious cases of the disease in Angola had been registered so far, but warned of the “evident risk of introducing the Coronavirus” due to the great migratory movement.
The DNSP therefore enacted a set of measures to prevent and control the epidemiological situation, including immediate notification of suspected cases and deaths, recommendations regarding the handling of patients and referral of suspected cases to the referral hospital.
Scientists at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have warned of an accelerated spread of the Coronavirus, which has already officially killed 80 people in China and infected 2744 others.
