One Family, One ‘Fortress’ in Disease Control & Prevention

​The Prime Minister called on each citizen to be a soldier in the fight against the pandemic; to be proactive, stay vigilant, do not neglect, minimize epidemics spreading in the community.

Health workers spray chemicals on Ho Van Dai St., Quarter 3, Quang Vinh Ward, Bien Hoa City

Rapidly increasing in new cases

Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that up to now, infection in the community has been found in 10 provinces and cities: Da Nang, Quang Nam, Dak Lak, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ngai, Hanoi, Thai Binh, Dong Nai, Ha Nam, and Khanh Hoa.

Most of the cases infected in the community have epidemiological factors related to outbreaks in hospitals in Danang City, who are patients, family members, caregivers, health workers and other cases with close contact with the above cases. It is forecasted that the epidemic will continue to increase and spread rapidly in many localities throughout the country due to statistics as since July 1 to 29, about 1.4 million people nationwide went to Da Nang city, of which about 800,000 people went to the area of 3 hospitals in Da Nang.

For effective control of the Covid-19 epidemic, over the past time, the health sector has been zoning for isolation, disinfection and disinfection to stamp out the epidemic in the cluster of 3 hospitals in Da Nang and some places where cases have been recorded in the community. Blockade is carried out in all high-risk areas in localities where cases of infection have been found; tracing cases in close contact with infected cases, suspected diseases; conducting concentrated medical isolation, take samples for testing, and monitor the health situation for suspect cases. Ministry of Health has also directed the grassroots health system to coordinate with local police agencies to ‘go every lane, knock house-by-house, check every person’ which not to miss any people going/coming, returning from Da Nang to set up a list and follow up.

To support Da Nang, the Ministry of Health has sent staff with the highest expertise in many fields such as resuscitation, artificial kidney, cardiology from Bach Mai Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, Hospital for Tropical Diseases HCMC comes to strengthen support in Da Nang; organized 6 national online conferences for patient treatment, diversion and patient referral for treatment at Hue Central Hospital; discharged patients at Da Nang Hospital to reduce the possibility of infection in the hospital area, while directing the release of medical staff from the hospital area to the private isolation areas. Extensive testing is done for people at risk of infection.

Achieve the ‘dual’ goals

According to PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, after this meeting, the Government Office will synthesize suggestions on solutions of ministries, branches and localities to complete a new Directive to replace the Directive 16 and 19 implemented in recent years.

Appreciating the efforts made by the health sector and relevant ministries and agencies to proactively control the epidemic spreading to the community, the PM emphasized that in the coming time, the epidemic is forecasted to be complicated and widespread if the epidemic is not to be zoned and suppressed in time.

Therefore, the whole political system and the entire people need to drastically take part in, considering this as an important political task, the first task, not to be neglected. The health system must always be ready for epidemic prevention and control; strengthen the management of the border, military isolation facilities, ready to put efforts into the best prevention and fighting against epidemics.

For patients with serious illness in hospitals, it is necessary to have good management measures and treatment, minimizing death cases.

“In the whole political system, people must fight against epidemics, such as fighting against the enemy, speeding and resolutely, putting all resources to thoroughly handle the epidemic outbreaks, taking advantage of every hour and minute to track down, applying appropriate isolation measures, conducting tests on a large scale, and providing medical supervision for cases of disease or are at risk of disease. We need to be calm, proactive and determined to prevent epidemics from spreading on a large scale while not panic, wavering, but also stay vigilant, ensuring that production and business are not broken by epidemics, especially in big cities and provinces”- The Prime Minister specially noted.

In addition, the authorities have to take many measures to call on people to make medical declaration and test when there are signs of illness. Each citizen is a soldier, each house, hamlet, residential area is a fortress in the fight against the pandemic. Everyone needs to be self-conscious and stay vigilant to protect themselves, their families and the locality.

The PM particularly emphasized the need to ensure safety in health care facilities and medical workers.

For cases of illegal entry and bringing illegal aliens, Prime Minister asked the authorities to immediately prosecute, not to let this situation continue to endanger the community.

Regarding the National High School Exam 2020, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Education and Training to coordinate with the Ministry of Health to carefully manage to organize the safety exam. Provinces and cities that implement social distancing may not be tested right in this phase.

By An Yen