Fighting the 'enemy' nCoV: The greatest responsibility belongs to local Party committees and authorities

On the afternoon of February 3, the National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Acute Respiratory Diseases caused by the new strain of Corona virus (nCoV) held a meeting to deploy epidemic prevention and control measures. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the Steering Committee, chaired the meeting.

At the meeting, after listening to the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee report on the epidemic's developments at home and abroad, experts' opinions on the characteristics, infection mechanism and treatment recommendations, the Steering Committee members discussed and agreed that the epidemic is still complicated in China and can spread quickly to many countries.

For every Vietnamese citizen, the most effective measure to proactively prevent and fight the epidemic at this time is that each person needs to strictly follow the recommendations of the health sector on using masks, personal hygiene, avoiding gatherings and contact with crowded places, etc. to protect themselves.

As for the authorities, the strongest measure at this time is to strictly control people entering from epidemic areas; organize quarantine, containment, and epidemic suppression according to the 4-on-the-spot principle; suspected infected people must be absolutely quarantined and appropriate and effective solutions must be deployed to prevent the epidemic from spreading to the community, which can easily lead to loss of control.

Opinions also agreed that, in terms of regulations, we have enough, the health sector also committed to implementing support measures for localities in terms of technology, medicine, medical equipment for treatment, etc. Therefore, the most important issue at this time is implementation. The greatest responsibility belongs to local Party committees and authorities. The Central Steering Committee will organize inspection delegations to urge strict implementation of nCoV prevention and control work.

Immediately isolate people suspected of being infected with nCoV

In a related development, in the face of the complicated situation of the new strain of Corona virus that is likely to spread rapidly, on the afternoon of February 3, the Prime Minister issued a directive: Implement quarantine to prevent and control the epidemic for all entry cases, including foreigners entering from or passing through 31/31 provinces and cities of China within the past 14 days.

Specifically, suspected cases of nCoV infection must be immediately isolated at medical facilities.

Those entering from or passing through Hubei province, China must be considered as infected cases and immediately quarantined at facilities designated by the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, and absolute measures must be taken to prevent infection in quarantine facilities.

For other cases, quarantine at home or accommodation facilities under close supervision of the authorities, resolutely not allowing these cases to leave their homes or accommodation facilities and come into contact with people around them. For those living in families or working in accommodation facilities with quarantined people, take disease prevention measures, minimize contact with quarantined people and with the outside.

The Prime Minister requested strict implementation of isolation measures, disinfection measures, and sterilization of families, households directly adjacent (adjacent) and accommodation facilities where the quarantined person is. Make a list of all people who have been in contact with the quarantined person, with family members, and people working in the accommodation facilities where the quarantined person is to closely monitor and supervise their health.

The Prime Minister assigned: The Ministry of Public Security to urgently direct local police to coordinate with relevant sectors and agencies to review all entry cases and quarantine the above entry cases.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism urgently directed the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to review all accommodation establishments to quarantine the above-mentioned entry cases, and requested localities to strictly control all activities at historical-cultural relics, scenic spots and landscapes to avoid large gatherings.

Fastest screening of quarantined people; thoroughly localizing and suppressing the epidemic on the spot

The Ministry of Health urgently deploys technical measures to quickly screen people in quarantine. The Ministry of Health, under its authority, applies new treatment measures, coordinates drugs and equipment to ensure there is no shortage at treatment facilities and no deaths occur. At the same time, it is allowed to transfer facilities, drugs and equipment to serve the quarantine and treatment of people infected with nCoV.

The Prime Minister also requested the Ministry of Health to thoroughly direct the isolation and containment of the outbreak at locations where people are infected or suspected of being infected with nCoV. For cases coming from or having traveled through Hubei province, China within 14 days, they must be considered as infected cases.

The People's Committees of localities shall direct the police, health, culture, sports and tourism units and all levels, sectors and units in the area to carry out the above quarantine. At the same time, direct the screening of all entrants from or passing through China within 14 days to carry out the above quarantine measures. Mobilize resources to carry out epidemic prevention and control measures, ensuring quarantine services.

Local People's Committees must immediately declare an epidemic when there is a case of the disease. Students must stop going to school and all collective activities, large gatherings, and festivals must be suspended according to the direction of the Secretariat and the Prime Minister./.