Innovative approaches and vigilance are helping Mongolia manage the triple challenge of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, seasonal influenza and increased mixing as school resumes in autumn.
At the start of September, children returned to the classroom, with an innovative hybrid approach to study. Lessons are face-to-face for five days, and then online for nine days. Three-quarters of schools have doctors on-site, ready to diagnose and respond to any child who develops symptoms and learning materials and toys are being disinfected regularly.
Mongolia is also intensifying surveillance and early detection efforts, assessing risks, such as student use of public transport, and increasing communication with parents and the wider community to help reduce risk and keep the community safe. Additional safety measures are also planned for technical colleagues and universities.
Innovative approaches and high alertness are needed because the dominant strain of the coronavirus disease in the country is Delta, which is twice transmissible as the original strain and has been detected in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and all 21 provinces. Since Delta arrived in Mongolia, the country has seen record numbers of cases, with more than 3,800 reported on 3 September alone. More than half of cases were in the provinces. In all, the country had reported more than 221,000 cases and more than 900 deaths by early September.
Vaccines are part of the multi-pronged response approach being taken by the Mongolian Government, with a rollout schedule, supported by the COVAX Facility and other partners. As of 17 August, more than 2 million people (62% of the population) had been fully vaccinated. This included more than 90% of education staff, although recently, an increasing proportion of cases are among children.
“It is remarkable that Mongolia has been able to secure enough doses despite global low vaccine supply, and also protect 85% of people in vulnerable groups,” said the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Mongolia, Dr Sergey Diorditsa.
“But it is crucial that vaccines are not seen as the only solution. We need to use a comprehensive approach to controlling transmission.
“We know that the public health and social measures like physical distancing and increased hygiene continue to work against the Delta variant and that the vaccines are safe and effective against severe illness and death.”
“It’s important to recognize the large scale of the challenge for Mongolia this autumn. While people are well vaccinated, the concurrent challenge of seasonal influenza, which lasts for a very extended period, and the mass gathering of students and adults will require constant alertness,” said Dr Diorditsa.
Three factors have helped Mongolia to date, he said. Firstly, Mongolia has a long history of continuously evolving its systems to respond to health challenges. Secondly, COVID-19 cases were relatively low for the first 10 months of the pandemic, allowing the country to prepare. Finally, existing capacity in Mongolia’s local family and soum (district) health centres provided public health care, supported innovative home-based care and maintained the continuity of essential services, allowing hospitals to devote resources to patients who were severely or critically ill.
Measures undertaken by the Ministry of Health with the support of WHO and partners include strengthening COVID-19 preparedness and response, increasing testing capacity, greater support for older people, and expanding laboratory capacity from five to 38 laboratories. Innovations such as digital tools introduced in response to the pandemic strengthened early detection, care, supply and logistics.
These ongoing contributions to the country’s health care capacity will help Mongolia weather the challenges of autumn and further protect people’s health beyond the pandemic