The first 3 Vietnamese people infected with corona virus

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen reported that as of 3:20 p.m. today, according to the results of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 3 Vietnamese people have been detected infected with the corona virus.

One person in Thanh Hoa is being treated at Thanh Hoa Provincial Hospital, two cases are at the Tropical Hospital in Dong Anh District, Hanoi. All three cases tested positive for the corona virus.

So far there are 5 cases, including 2 Chinese cases treated at Cho Ray Hospital (the son tested negative, the father is stable and is being monitored and treated).

Do not let Vietnam fall into the epidemic vortex

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that Directive 05 had been issued to propose urgent solutions but the situation was extremely serious. The Vietnamese Ambassador to China regularly reported on the complicated developments. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Standing Committee of the Chinese Politburo held a meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping, establishing a special working group led by Premier Li Keqiang.

China has taken many measures. According to reports, 18-19 countries have been infected, the epidemic situation is extremely complicated. "We must discuss stronger solutions to ensure the health and lives of Vietnamese people, limit the spread of the epidemic because the infection rate is very high. We must have necessary measures," the Prime Minister emphasized.

The Prime Minister suggested: "In this meeting, I propose to spend 1/3 of the time reporting on tasks after Tet, and the remaining 2/3 of the time to propose and discuss the implementation of Prime Minister's Directive 05 and most recently the Secretariat's Official Dispatch on the prevention and control of acute respiratory infections caused by the corona virus.

"The spirit is to be more determined, have synchronous solutions, fight the epidemic across the country, the political system gets involved and has strong measures to protect the health and lives of the people, not letting Vietnam fall into the vortex of this epidemic," the Prime Minister noted.

According to the head of the Government, how can all localities participate, do not let subjectivity prevail.

Some measures can also be considered such as reporting to the Politburo to close the border, or all people must wear masks to prevent the epidemic. We must have positive solutions for all transactions with the announced source of the epidemic, not allowing subjective situations to cause death and affect people's lives...

"We have decided to establish a Steering Committee for Corona Prevention and Control headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. It will report to the Prime Minister daily and propose timely measures in the context of this outbreak," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Proposal to declare a state of emergency

At the meeting, Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung gave a quick report on the updated epidemic situation.

Specifically, in China, the epidemic has spread to 31/31 provinces and cities. As of 7:00 a.m. this morning, 170 deaths, 7,711 cases of infection and more than 12,000 suspected cases have been announced. The number of infections and deaths has skyrocketed in 24 hours, an increase of 38 people compared to January 29. This number is expected to increase in the next 24 hours.

In addition to China, the epidemic has appeared in 17 countries and territories (Nepal, Macau, Australia, Turkey, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, France, the United States, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Finland, Italy, Canada). The total number of infections in the world is 7,719 people, 170 deaths all in China.

"WHO's assessment: On January 26, WHO had to adjust the risk level of the epidemic from "moderate" to "high" in the region and globally; "very high" in China," Minister Mai Tien Dung said, adding that it is expected that today, WHO will declare a global health emergency.

Mr. Dung reiterated 2 cases of Chinese people infected with the disease in Vietnam (1 has recovered, the remaining case is progressing well); 32 suspected cases are being isolated, monitored, and treated while awaiting confirmation results; 65 suspected cases have been tested and ruled out; 43 contact cases are being monitored and supervised.

The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers have continuously inspected and updated the situation and issued three documents directing epidemic prevention and control; requiring ministries, branches and localities not to be subjective, not to let the epidemic spread, to consider epidemic prevention and control as fighting the enemy; and to mobilize the entire political system to participate.

The Secretariat has issued a document requesting Party committees, Party organizations, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations to focus on epidemic prevention tasks.

The Chief of the Government Office requested the Government and the Prime Minister to continue issuing official dispatches expressing stronger directives to prevent possible major epidemic disasters.

Specifically, declare a state of emergency for the corona epidemic in Vietnam. Require all provincial hospitals, central hospitals, hospitals in the police and military sectors to receive patients and treat them on the spot; activate the infection prevention and control department at all hospitals to receive patients with fever symptoms.

The army must be on top alert and field hospitals must be on standby.

Close all trails and openings along the border with China. Strictly control the entire border. Strictly prohibit the storage, transportation, and trade of wild animals into Vietnam. Monitor and quarantine Chinese citizens returning to Vietnam to work after the holidays.

Limit large gatherings, especially festivals. In localities with many Chinese tourists, unnecessary festivals must be stopped. Consider giving students time off from school to reduce the risk of infection.