Director of the Department of Health: Localities need to immediately activate Covid-19 epidemic prevention work

Thanh Chung - Thanh Cuong (Performed)• DNUM_AHZAFZCACB 14:49

(Baonghean.vn) - The Covid-19 epidemic situation in Hoang Mai town is very complicated, Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Director of Nghe An Department of Health said.

Immediately after discovering patient 3098, Nghe An quickly implemented epidemic prevention measures. Photo: Tien Hung

PV: Please tell us about the Covid-19 epidemic situation in the town.Hoang Mainow?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh:Epidemic situationCovid-19related casePatient 3098in Hoang Mai town is very complicated.

The first, the patient returned from April 29 on a car with license plate 29B-622.87. The tourist car departed from Hanoi, carrying 43 people, dropping off passengers at 4 locations and the final destination was Quynh Long commune, Quynh Luu, Nghe An.

Monday, Patient 3098 is a relative taking care of his wife (the patient is being treated at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, branch 2). The first test result for Patient 3098's wife is currently negative for SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Tuesday, Patient 3098's travel itinerary is very complicated, involving many communities from schools, police stations, and hospitals. There are F1 cases in all these places, and the number of F1 and F2 cases of Patient 3098 is very large... Last night (May 6), the police and medical forces found 72 F1 cases and 743 F2 cases. This morning (May 7), we found 17 more F1 cases.

The risk that F1 cases of patient 3098 will test positive in the near future is very high. Although at this time, there have been more than 60 F1 cases with negative first test results, we cannot be subjective and need to continue to closely monitor and conduct more tests for F1 cases.

PV: In the face of the Covid-19 epidemic in Hoang Mai town, Nghe An, what preventive measures have been implemented?

Hundreds of people related to patient 3908 were tested for Covid-19 overnight. Photo: Tien Hung

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh:Last night, the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of Nghe An province worked with the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of Hoang Mai town to decide to implement social distancing for Hoang Mai town according to Directive 15/CT-TTG starting from 0:00 on May 7; implement urgent measures to prevent and control Covid-19 for Quynh Lap Central Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital and 5 villages of Quynh Lap commune according to Directive 16/CT-TTG.

Nghe An has also deployed necessary and urgent tasks, which are: Investigation and tracing; taking samples for testing for 71/72 F1 cases (1 F1 case is in Ninh Binh) and 341 F2 cases); conducting centralized isolation of all F1 cases, strictly isolating all F2 cases at home; disinfecting all related households in Quynh Lap commune overnight and completed by early this morning. Today, Nghe An coordinated with Military Region 4 to disinfect public areas.

In order to prepare for the treatment of Covid-19 patients, from April 30 to May 3, the health sector organized delegations to inspect treatment facilities. On May 5, the sector organized an intensive training course to improve the capacity to manage and treat Covid-19 patients. Implementing the plan to prevent and control the epidemic and treat patients, this morning, May 7, Patient 3098 was brought to Quynh Luu General Hospital for treatment and strict isolation.

Lockdown of 5 villages of Quynh Lap commune, Hoang Mai town. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Today, Nghe An continues to trace and search for more F1 and F2 cases and the number of F1 and F2 will certainly increase. The health sector has activated testing points in 6 hospitals to support widespread testing, ensuring about 2,000 tests per day; mobilizing a large number of medical staff to participate in the fight against the epidemic.

At 4:00 p.m. today, after receiving the test results of all F1 and F2 cases, the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control and the Department of Health continued to meet with the Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention and Control of Hoang Mai town to evaluate the implementation of solutions and propose new epidemic prevention solutions for the following days.

Reporter: How far has the review of cases related to the "outbreak" at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases been carried out, sir?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh:According to the list announced by the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Nghe An has 75 cases that have been examined and treated here. Through searching and screening, Nghe An has found 36/75 of these cases, quarantined them and taken samples for testing, and today the test results will be available.

The remaining 29 cases are currently not in Nghe An province. Nghe An is still searching for other related subjects not on the list.

Spraying disinfectant chemicals in public areas of Quynh Lap commune. Photo: Thanh Cuong

This morning, we also received information about a new outbreak at Tan Trieu K Hospital, with 10 cases. K Hospital has temporarily stopped receiving patients, not allowing patients to be discharged, isolated each department and room, and implemented a no-entry and no-exit policy at all 3 facilities. With this information, Nghe An will continue to review the cases treated at Tan Trieu K Hospital for isolation and testing.

Reporter: Currently, Quynh Lap Central Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital has been asked to temporarily stop receiving patients to prevent the epidemic. Does this affect the medical examination and treatment of local people?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh:Because there are many F1 cases working (including the patient's sister-in-law and daughter), Nghe An province has requested Quynh Lap Central Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital to temporarily stop receiving patients to spray disinfectants throughout the hospital, organize investigations, trace, and collect samples for testing of F2 cases. This is very necessary.

We are not worried that the hospital's temporary suspension of patient admission will affect us because in Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district, there are 5 other medical facilities where people can go for examination and treatment during this time.

PV: With the risk of Covid-19 epidemic in Hoang Mai town at this time, what solutions should other localities implement to prevent Covid-19 epidemic?

Patient 3098 has been taken to Quynh Luu General Hospital for treatment and strict isolation. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh:With the implementation from Hoang Mai town, Nghe An Health sector requests the Steering Committee for Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control of districts, cities and towns to immediately implement the scenario in Nghe An where Covid-19 epidemic has appeared; regularly grasp the situation, as well as the directions of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Committee, Steering Committee for Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control of Nghe An province and instructions of the Health sector; prepare response plans for epidemic situations that may occur in their areas.

The Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of districts, cities and towns needs to establish, strongly activate and improve the effectiveness of self-managed teams for community epidemic prevention and control in blocks, hamlets, villages and hamlets; go to every alley, knock on every door to detect suspected cases from epidemic areas to declare and quarantine according to regulations.

The Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of districts, cities and towns also needs to strengthen the monitoring of concentrated quarantine areas in localities and people's home quarantine activities; step up propaganda work for people to properly implement the 5K requirements of the Ministry of Health; not to be subjective or negligent with the epidemic but also not to panic, worry or be pessimistic.

PV: Thank you!