Urgently reactivate the anti-epidemic spirit

Risks from "underground" entertainment services

Recently, in Quynh Luu district, 3 outbreaks have occurred.Covid-19at 3 Karaoke bars with 28 F0 cases. That is the outbreak at karaoke 68 (Quynh Chau commune) with 10 F0 cases, including 9 employees and 1 customer. The outbreak was discovered on the night of January 19 because an employee had symptoms, tested positive on-site, then called the medical station to test and discovered. The infection was announced on the morning of January 20. Up to now, 14 people have been traced as F1.

The outbreak at Bich Que karaoke (Cau Giat town) has 7 F0s, of which the first 5 F0s were employees of the bar discovered on the night of January 18; then 1 more case of a customer in Quynh Lam commune was discovered on the morning of January 20 and 1 person from Tuong Duong district went to the bar was discovered on January 19. Tracing to date shows that 10 people are F1s. This outbreak is related to karaoke outbreak 68.

Bich Que Karaoke Bar operates illegally. There are 7 F0s related to the bar. Photo: Illustration

The outbreak at Quynh Minh karaoke has 11 F0, of which, 7 employees were detected on the afternoon of January 17 (there was 1 case of an employee with symptoms so he went to the medical station to get tested, 6 cases were detected) and 4 cases were customers. Tracing up to now, there are 60 people who are F1. No factors related to the 2 karaoke bars above have been found.

It is worth mentioning that in recent times, the provinceNghe AnIn general, Quynh Luu district has not allowed non-essential services to resume operations, including karaoke. Karaoke bars in Quynh Luu are operating "illegally"... The story in Quynh Luu is not an isolated one. A few days earlier, in Nghi Loc district, authorities also discovered a Covid-19 outbreak including 5 F0 cases at Danh karaoke bar in Thai Thinh hamlet, Nghi Thai commune.

Currently, in Nghe An, in many localities, there have been cases of karaoke bars and bars operating secretly, circumventing regulations, and welcoming customers to use their services. Although previously, in the urgent Official Dispatch No. 9064/UBND-VX dated November 22, 2021 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on strengthening the implementation of a number of measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic in the province (starting from 0:00 on November 23, 2021) clearly stated: Nghe An stops the operation of other high-risk infection service businesses such as beauty salons, massage parlors, dance clubs, karaoke, bars, internet, and electronic games.

During the meeting between the Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center of Nghe An province and Quynh Luu district on January 20, 2022, the authorities assessed: If not detected early, 28 F0 from 3 outbreaks at these 3 karaoke bars could infect thousands of people. Quynh Luu district has been facing the risk of a widespread Covid-19 outbreak before, during and after the Lunar New Year.

According to Mr. Hoang Danh Lai - Secretary of the District Party Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Quynh Luu District: The fact that karaoke bars are operating illegally clearly shows that the authorities, functional agencies, and Covid-19 prevention and control forces at the grassroots level have loosened management. Community Covid teams and self-managed Covid-19 prevention and control teams have not performed their duties well. Business owners do not comply well, regardless of legal regulations. People are indifferent and subjective about the epidemic.

Reactivating community Covid-19 teams

At this time, the biggest concern about the Covid-19 epidemic lies in crowded places and events. At the conference on implementing health work in 2022 held on the morning of January 20, 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh clearly stated: The epidemic spreads and breaks out strongly in crowded places and events, not on means of transport. Localities need to resolutely, focusedly, and effectively implement anti-epidemic solutions based on the motto "all people, from the grassroots, with people at the center".

Medical staff of Chau Thang commune, Quy Chau district collect information from citizens about Tet. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The reality of the Covid-19 epidemic in Nghe An from the beginning of 2022 until now has shown that: Hundreds of Covid-19 infections have been detected among factory workers, people attending crowded events such as weddings, death anniversaries and people coming to entertainment venues... To prevent and combat the Covid-19 epidemic, on January 14, 2022, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued a document on strengthening measures to manage cultural and sports activities to ensure the celebration of the Lunar New Year 2022 to provincial departments, branches, sectors, and organizations; People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns.

Nghe An Provincial People's Committee requests to stop organizing all types of festivals before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2022 (from the first lunar month to the end of the third lunar month) and fireworks during the Lunar New Year 2022 in the province; minimize the organization of cultural and sports events and activities with large crowds; minimize the number of people participating at the same time in organizing weddings, funerals, tomb sweeping, longevity celebrations, death anniversaries, entertainment activities...

Heads of agencies, units, cadres and party members should promote their role as role models, actively propagate and mobilize people to raise their vigilance and implement epidemic prevention requirements. Provincial departments, branches, sectors and mass organizations; People's Committees of districts, cities and towns should step up propaganda and dissemination work, raise awareness and compliance with the law; regularly warn people not to be subjective or negligent in epidemic prevention work, provide complete and timely information, and create consensus in society so that people can enjoy the Spring Festival in the new normal state.

To prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic in enterprises, factories, and industrial parks, the Provincial Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center has also issued clear instructions: To effectively prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic, without interruption in production, factories and enterprises need to synchronously implement solutions such as communicating to cadres, workers and employees to comply with the requirements for disease prevention at the unit and the community; vaccinating cadres, workers and employees against Covid-19; regularly conducting screening tests at the unit; coordinating well with local authorities and functional units to review plans and scenarios for epidemic prevention and handling of arising epidemic situations...

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Deputy Commander of the Center for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of Nghe An province, Director of Nghe An Department of Health: During this period, localities in the province need to strictly implement the direction of the country and the province in preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic; strengthen the monitoring of cases of people returning from outside the province; require full medical declaration; encourage people to take tests when returning to their localities; review and guide industrial parks and factories to strictly implement epidemic prevention and control at production sites; rapidly vaccinate all people of all ages against Covid-19; promote communication work to raise awareness of epidemic prevention and control, avoid subjectivity with the epidemic; strengthen inspection and supervision of compliance with epidemic prevention and control regulations...; activate and "reheat" the activities of community Covid-19 teams and self-managed Covid-19 prevention and control teams.