Provincial Party Secretary, Chairman of People's Committee chaired online meeting on prevention and control of Corona virus

On the morning of February 7, the Provincial People's Committee held an online conference on the prevention and control of acute respiratory infections caused by the new strain of Corona virus (nCoV) in Nghe An with 21 districts, cities and towns.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Corona Virus Prevention and Control chaired. Photo: Thanh Duy

The conference was co-chaired by members of the Provincial Party Executive Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee: Le Ngoc Hoa and Bui Dinh Long. The conference was attended by the Provincial Steering Committee for nCov Prevention and Control; leaders of relevant departments, branches, and districts, cities, and towns.

Nghe An has not recorded any cases of the disease.

According to the Department of Health, through the monitoring system, as of the morning of February 7, Nghe An has quarantined and tested a total of 13 cases for nCoV.

Of these, 2 cases were excluded by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology because they were not under surveillance and 10 cases were negative. Director of the Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh said that there is currently 1 case awaiting test results.

However, the head of the provincial health sector noted that although through monitoring until 6:00 a.m. on February 7, the province has not recorded any cases of acute respiratory pneumonia caused by the new strain of Corona virus. However, the risk of an epidemic entering Nghe An is entirely possible due to many objective and subjective reasons.

Director of the Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh reports on the leadership and direction of epidemic prevention and control in Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Department of Health has directed 8 hospitals (with 180 beds), including 2 end-line hospitals of the province (Provincial General Friendship Hospital and Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital) to fully prepare facilities, human resources, and equipment for the worst case scenario of a widespread epidemic.

At the meeting, leaders of other departments and branches such as: Education and Training, Provincial Military Command, Vinh International Airport, Department of Finance also expressed their opinions on related contents.

In particular, Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training Thai Van Thanh affirmed that the province's decision to let students stay home from school from February 7 was "implemented methodically, scientifically, and based on local practices". During the school break, the Department directed schools to provide specific instructions for students to study at home and support parents.

Through a practical survey, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long directed that during the time students are off school, schools need to organize disinfection spraying and proactively arrange additional hand washing taps with soap for students or supplement hand sanitizer for students and teachers.

Don't be subjective or negligent.

Concluding the meeting, the Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that the epidemic situation is very dangerous. This is a dangerous infectious disease that can spread quickly, widely and has a high mortality rate. The Secretariat has issued directives, the Prime Minister has issued many telegrams, two directives and a decision to declare the epidemic nationwide.

Therefore, it is required not to be subjective or negligent, but to focus highly, consider this an urgent task, associated with the responsibility of the leader and implement the 4 on-site policy: on-site command, on-site forces, on-site facilities and on-site logistics.

Comrade Thai Van Thanh - Director of the Department of Education and Training spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Going into specifics, the Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that the province has fully grasped the documents of the Secretariat, the Prime Minister, relevant ministries and branches, the Provincial Party Standing Committee, and has had plans and many documents directing branches and districts and has established a Provincial Steering Committee.

"I propose that the Provincial Steering Committee must see its responsibility, attach its responsibility, first of all to the agencies, units, and sectors under its charge," Comrade Thai Thanh Quy emphasized, and must immediately assign areas, regions, sectors in charge, functions, and tasks of the members of the Provincial Steering Committee.

For the Department of Health, as the standing agency of the Steering Committee, it is necessary to continue to regularly assess the situation closely, delimit areas, analyze and forecast the situation to advise the Provincial Steering Committee for focused direction, in addition to directing rapid and widespread response.

In addition, the Department of Health needs to continue to preside over, conduct inspections and review of epidemic prevention and control work at sectoral units, especially districts, cities and towns, to advise the Provincial Steering Committee to promptly urge and remind; procedures for guiding the implementation of measures in the health sector.

Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Ha - Commander of the Provincial Military Command reported on the plan to prepare a place to welcome citizens returning from China. Photo: Thanh Duy

The provincial police continue to proactively monitor the situation of entry and exit to grasp the developments of incoming subjects, and at the same time coordinate with departments and branches to control goods and supplies related to disease prevention and control.

Regarding the Department of Education and Training, comrade Thai Thanh Quy emphasized that the selection of the time for students in the whole province to stop going to school from February 7th has carefully considered all factors, ensuring the selection of an appropriate time, meeting the requirements of disease prevention and control without disrupting society and preparing the mindset of schools and parents.

However, during the time students are off school, he requested that the Education sector coordinate with families to monitor students' situation, provide recommendations and information on disease prevention and control; and at the same time, disinfect schools and classrooms. Then, implement remedial teaching and learning measures after students return to school.

Center for Tropical Diseases, Nghe An General Hospital - where patients are received and monitored. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Regarding this issue, the Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested authorities at all levels to direct hamlet chiefs, village chiefs, and block chiefs to coordinate with schools and families to manage students during the school break.

Also at the meeting, comrade Thai Thanh Quy said that, according to information from the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, only 10/21 districts have reported the labor situation from China, while 11 district-level localities that have not yet reported must compile statistics and report honestly, the deadline is February 10.

The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs must also consider areas with many workers returning from China, especially the epidemic area in China, to advise on solutions. Relevant departments and branches must grasp the number of tourists entering Nghe An, especially those who have passed through China. The Department of Culture and Sports must strictly control and strictly implement the Government's directive to suspend festivals. Market management must be strengthened to avoid hoarding and increasing prices of epidemic prevention and control equipment.

The Provincial Party Secretary also requested that propaganda work on the prevention and control of the Corona virus epidemic needs to be highly focused, proactive, and properly oriented to stabilize people's awareness and thinking.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of Acute Respiratory Infections Caused by the New Coronavirus concluded the conference. Photo: Thanh Duy

People's Committees of districts, cities, towns and cities that do not have a steering committee or plan for disease prevention and control must establish and issue it immediately and need to grasp the subjects entering and leaving, especially those who have come to or have passed through China and returned to Vietnam; focus on propaganda, information and exchange with the people; proactively handle the situation right from the grassroots level according to the 4 on-site motto.

The Fatherland Front Committee and organizations and unions need to disseminate the above contents to their members. Each person is a propagandist; launch at agencies and units, actively carry out general cleaning, strengthen disinfection and sterilization solutions, stop organizing sightseeing and spring travel activities; if there are signs of infection, voluntarily go to the medical facility immediately. Agencies and units strictly implement the reporting regime.

Regarding the purchase of chemicals, the Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee agreed to purchase through a centralized hub, the Provincial Center for Disease Control. In addition, the spraying of disinfectants and sterilization chemicals needs to be invested in early, first in schools, then in airports, border gates, and crowded places (bus stations, shopping malls).