The Region’s Health Ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Monday 3 February on the novel Coronavirus which the World Health Organisation has now classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The novel Coronavirus outbreak which originated in Wahun City, Hubei Province, China, started in December 2019 and, up to this week about eight thousand cases have been laboratory-confirmed globally, with eighty-two cases  confirmed outside of China.

Monday’s meeting of the CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (Health), which will also be attended by other senior Health and Security officials, will provide updates on regional plans.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) – the lead CARICOM Institution on public health matters –  has activated its Incidence Management Team for Emergency Response and has been working with its Regional and International health partners to monitor developments and support national response efforts. CARPHA has been urging CARICOM Member States to be vigilant and to step up surveillance at their ports of entry.