GCC health ministers meeting discusses COVID-19 situation

Muscat: The Ministers of Health of the GCC countries met on Saturday via the visual communication to discuss the latest developments of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health & Prevention of the UAE chaired the meeting with the participation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General.
The meeting reviewed the COVID-19 current situation in each country in the Gulf, how dealing with the Gulf citizens in the endemic areas, the coordination process between the countries, as well as identifying a contact person to transfer the information. In addition, the ministers of health reviewed the future plan to tackle this outbreak, the procedures that are enforced in the points of entry, the statistics, the preparedness of the health sector, media and emergency plans, community awareness programs and the role of the Health council in this regard.
Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health reviewed the current situation of the disease in the Sultanate along with the registered number of cases and the procedures that have been made to tackle this disease in the Sultanate.
Al Saidi pointed out to the decision issued by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on formation of a higher committee mandated to investigate the developments resulted in the spread of the COVID-19. The Committee, which includes a number of ministers and undersecretaries, has the absolute validity to make the appropriate decisions to reduce the spread of this epidemic.
He also added that the Sultanate has suspended the air flights between the Sultanate and number of endemic countries, in which the community separating program is underway to reduce the spread of this virus.
The emergency meeting came out with a statement, where the ministers of health praised the significant efforts and contribution of the staff working in the health sector in tackling COVID-19, as well as the role and cooperation of the citizens along with the official and civil authorities in this condition. In addition, the ministers decided to establish an operation room at the under-secretary level of ministers of health between the GCC to continuously monitor the latest developments and coordinate to make the joint decisions.
At the end of the meeting, the GCC Secretary-General praised the ministers of health concern to tackle this disease and dealing with all developments to ensure the safety of the GCC citizens and residents and enjoying the highest levels of health. He also stressed on documenting the GCC’s experiences in order to take advantage of them in advance.