Question: Would you have anything to share regarding diagnostics and therapy for COVID-19 inBrunei? KK: Brunei Darussalam started conducting SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests which utilises PCR (PolymeraseChain Reaction) to detect the genetic information, RNA of the virus from January 2020. The inauguration ofthe auxiliary National Virology Reference Laboratory on the 31 March 2020 has increased the testingcapacity from 240 to more than 1,000 diagnostic tests per day. As of 6 May 2020, a total of 14,754 testshave been performed at the new laboratory. The Ministry of Health (MoH)’s policy of intensive testing ofhigh-risk individuals (recent overseas travel and contact with known infected individuals), together withstringent isolation ensures early identification of positive cases with subsequent strong measures taken tomitigate the spread of the infection.  The symptoms of COVID-19 infection range from very mild such as fever, cough and shortness of breath(including some with no symptoms) to severe such as pneumonia, multi-organ failure and death. Persons whoare tested positive for the coronavirus and showing symptoms are highly infective and admitted forobservation and treatment at the National Isolation Centre (NIC) in Tutong, a 136-bedded, purposely built,fully equipped and state-of-the-art isolation centre with its own intensive care unit and operation theatreswhich was launched in 2012. To increase the response capacity of combating COVID-19, the Ministry ofHealth officiated the construction of a new isolation centre in Tutong. The work on the new 170-beddedhospital which commenced on the 27 March 2020 was completed in less than one month and was officiallylaunched on the 25 April 2020. Due to the lack of a vaccine or medication to treat COVID-19 currently, treatment of COVID-19 infection ismainly supportive. Although the lungs are the main organs affected, other primary organs may also beinjured. Patients who are critically ill with the infection may require respiratory support using a ventilator andin more severe cases, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to provide prolonged cardiacand respiratory support, of which both machines are available in the NIC. In order to monitor the extent of COVID-19 spread in the country, the MoH has introduced 2 initiatives. On 6April 2020, the Ministry started conducting random COVID-19 swab testing among migrant workers in thecountry; and on the 4 May 2020, a one-week nationwide study to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2viral antibodies among citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam was launched. This test involved taking ablood sample and was open to volunteers visiting appointed health centres. DK: The pandemic situation is still fluid and there may be unexpected setbacks in the course of thepandemic. We should therefore not let our guard down, and try to be prepared for the unexpected. Thepandemic is not likely to settle down soon, and a real concern for everyone is to relax the preventivemeasures prematurely, which may result in a resurgence of cases.   B E Y O N D | J A N . T O M A R . 2 0 2 0 | I S S U E 2 0 4C O V I D - 1 9 U P D A T E S F R O M I H S
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