Ministry of Defence to assist with on-site COVID-19 testing across Roma communities
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- Date: 01.04.2020
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The SVK Ministry of Defence is to assist with on-site coronavirus testing across 33 Roma settlements in the coming days. This announcement was made today by Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď at a press conference on the Action Plan for Marginalised Roma Communities regarding the spread of coronavirus.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: "Currently, we are standing up four teams, each made up of about 15 service members. Starting from 3 April 2020, we are going ahead with testing across 33 locations that have been singled out, so that the Government and the Central Crisis Staff can make a comprehensive assessment of the situation no later than 10 April and adopt additional measures accordingly." He further added that as of today SVK Armed Forces personnel are out in force to talk to the mayors of affected villages, NGOs and local residents about the reasons for the on-site COVID-19 testing and the presence of service personnel there. In addition to collecting samples and keeping the public informed of the military response to COVID-19, they will be on the ground to determine the hygienic conditions of local residents in the communities.
On the military response, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď commented: "The MOD and Armed Forces want to bring the situation under control as best as they can. Also for this reason, we have prepared several scenarios, including the options to make available additional capacities and set up a quarantine zone at the Training Centre Lešť." He stressed that the Armed Forces stand ready to cordon off several villages and communities, if required.
Praising the activity of the MOD, Prime Minister Igor Matovič today said: "That the Armed Forces are going to help conduct testing in the settlements is not a demonstration of force. It is a demonstration that we do not want to put extra pressure on medical staff in hospitals and that the Armed Forces are willing to provide medical personnel to deal with this situation."
Meanwhile, 405 SVK Armed Forces personnel are deployed in support of the Central Crisis Staff. They are helping with border checks and assisting at hospitals across Slovakia. Additionally, the SVK military has used helicopters to distribute medical material to hospitals. Over 70 tons of medical supplies have been distributed by SVK Air Force airmen over the past few days.
Apart from this, the MOD has launched the training of sanitary personnel. Over the next 3 weeks, it is planning to train 150 personnel who will look after up to 3,500 patients in line with NATO medical standardization agreements. "Along with the Health Minister, we are finalising the discussion on whether to transform the SNP Central Military Hospital into a red hospital, which, in practice, would mean setting it aside as a hospital to treat COVID-19 patients only," explained Minister Naď.
At the conclusion, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď emphasised: "I am immensely proud of what our SVK Armed Forces personnel, serving under the command of Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko and under the control of Surgeon General of the SVK Armed Forces Brig Gen Vladimír Lengvarský, are doing."
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: "Currently, we are standing up four teams, each made up of about 15 service members. Starting from 3 April 2020, we are going ahead with testing across 33 locations that have been singled out, so that the Government and the Central Crisis Staff can make a comprehensive assessment of the situation no later than 10 April and adopt additional measures accordingly." He further added that as of today SVK Armed Forces personnel are out in force to talk to the mayors of affected villages, NGOs and local residents about the reasons for the on-site COVID-19 testing and the presence of service personnel there. In addition to collecting samples and keeping the public informed of the military response to COVID-19, they will be on the ground to determine the hygienic conditions of local residents in the communities.
On the military response, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď commented: "The MOD and Armed Forces want to bring the situation under control as best as they can. Also for this reason, we have prepared several scenarios, including the options to make available additional capacities and set up a quarantine zone at the Training Centre Lešť." He stressed that the Armed Forces stand ready to cordon off several villages and communities, if required.
Praising the activity of the MOD, Prime Minister Igor Matovič today said: "That the Armed Forces are going to help conduct testing in the settlements is not a demonstration of force. It is a demonstration that we do not want to put extra pressure on medical staff in hospitals and that the Armed Forces are willing to provide medical personnel to deal with this situation."
Meanwhile, 405 SVK Armed Forces personnel are deployed in support of the Central Crisis Staff. They are helping with border checks and assisting at hospitals across Slovakia. Additionally, the SVK military has used helicopters to distribute medical material to hospitals. Over 70 tons of medical supplies have been distributed by SVK Air Force airmen over the past few days.
Apart from this, the MOD has launched the training of sanitary personnel. Over the next 3 weeks, it is planning to train 150 personnel who will look after up to 3,500 patients in line with NATO medical standardization agreements. "Along with the Health Minister, we are finalising the discussion on whether to transform the SNP Central Military Hospital into a red hospital, which, in practice, would mean setting it aside as a hospital to treat COVID-19 patients only," explained Minister Naď.
At the conclusion, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď emphasised: "I am immensely proud of what our SVK Armed Forces personnel, serving under the command of Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko and under the control of Surgeon General of the SVK Armed Forces Brig Gen Vladimír Lengvarský, are doing."
