Risk Assessment Report – 13 march 2020
Risk Assessment Report – 13 march 2020
Rapid Risk Assessment
March 13, 2020
Risk Assessment Report – 13 march 2020
Time Period Covered March 13, 2020 - March 13, 2020
- On late March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic after cases outside China increased 13- fold over the past two weeks. WHO Director-General stated that WHO have been assessing this outbreak around the clock and are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. WHO Director- General mentioned in his speech that “This is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will touch every sector – so every sector and every individual must be involved in the fight. We’re in this together, to do the right things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It’s doable.”
- At the Member States information session last March 12, WHO DirectorGeneral reiterated that countries should not give up on stopping the outbreak now that WHO has characterized it as a pandemic. A shift from containment to mitigation would be wrong and dangerous. This is a controllable pandemic.
- Singapore closes mosques for five days starting from 13 March for cleaning as a precaution against the coronavirus with prayers cancelled for that day. In addition, activities at the mosques will be stopped until 27 March. This comes after two people were infected from a gathering in Malaysia. Separately, the Catholic Church of Singapore will continue suspending services indefinitely after the World Health Organization declares the coronavirus a pandemic, rescinding an initial plan to resume services on 14 March.
- The President of the Philippines raised the Code Alert System for COVID19 to CODE RED SUBLEVEL 2 (community transmission, clustered cases, Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the not sustained). Following discussions with health officials and Chief Executive approved the imposition of Stringent Social Distancing Measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) for 30 days effective March 15, 2020. This include: a) suspension of classes until April 12, 2020; 2) mass gatherings shall be prohibited; and 3) community quarantine is imposed in the entire Metro Manila. Work in the executive branch shall be suspended and flexible work arrangements are encouraged in the private sector. Mass public transport such as Light Rail Transits, Metro Rail Transits, and the Philippine National Railway shall continue in operation following guidelines by the Department of Transportation Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be suspended until April 14, 2020
Risk Assessment Report – 13 march 2020