JAN. 28, 2020

Chile’s Health authorities outline to President Piñera the measures to address novel coronavirus

The health officials explained that the Health Ministry’s Action Plan for this phase is focused on strengthening the epidemiological surveillance network and the capacity to diagnose the virus, as well as the action protocols for the healthcare network to treat patients, and public health measures for personnel working at airports and seaports.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Jaime Mañalich, Interior and Public Security Minister Gonzalo Blumel, Minister Secretary General of the Government Karla Rubilar, and Health Undersecretary Paula Daza.

During the briefing, Minister Mañalich informed President Piñera of the action plan to address the possible arrival in Chile of persons who may show symptoms attributable to novel coronavirus. This disease is currently present in 12 countries, including China, Japan, Australia, United States and France. 

After meeting with the President, the health officials explained that the Health Ministry’s Action Plan for this phase is focused on strengthening the epidemiological surveillance network and the capacity to diagnose the virus, as well as the action protocols for the healthcare network to treat patients, and public health measures for personnel working at airports and seaports.

“We have given precise instructions to the entire public health system because the possibility of this virus reaching Chile is not low.  When MERS and SARS occurred we did not have a single case. The infectious capacity of this new virus is making us take extra precaution, by stating that there is a possibility of this novel coronavirus arriving and that in the upcoming winter months it will be an important issue for our country. It’s something we are working on in case it is needed. Prevention is better than cure and this is the message that the President gave us,” said the Health Minister, who explained the scenario in case the disease arrives in Chile.

For her part, the Health Undersecretary reported that “the President summoned us today in order to take the necessary preventive measures. We have taken actions in case a person with symptoms of the virus should arrive in our country. The epidemiological network has been reinforced to make an early diagnosis, as well as the primary healthcare network, emergency hospital services, and intensive care units in case of seriously ill patients.”

The health official added, “we are in permanent contact with the World Health Organization (WHO), which will meet again next Friday to determine whether this is a global health emergency or not.”

In addition to the measures already reported by the ministry last week in terms of strengthening the diagnostic capacity across Chile and preparing healthcare workers, Minister Mañalich said that “once a presumed case is identified, a census will be conducted to establish the contacts this person has made so as to identify and follow up on them.”

“In the seaports of Chile where a ship may arrive that has been in contact with a port in China, or a place where the virus has been detected, we are requesting the captain of the vessel to submit the ship’s manifest in case there is a sick person on board and to trigger isolation measures. The same thing is being implemented at Santiago’s international airport where we have proceeded to protect all staff as of today.”

The Health Minister said that arrangements are in place for “the enrolment of every person coming into Chile whose point of origin over the last 14 days was an airport in China.”

The officials said that there have been no suspected cases of the disease in Chile so far. Over the last few days the cases that had been suspected have been entirely ruled out as they do not meet WHO requirements for persons with fever and respiratory symptoms without a specific cause who have been in any one of the cities with confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus during the14-day period prior to their arrival in Chile.

The officials called on the people of Chile to keep calm and to remain alert for official information from the Health Ministry. “In the days to come, the public and the media will hear about suspected cases and in all likelihood novel coronavirus will be confirmed in only very few cases,” concluded the Health Minister.