Nghe An proactively takes measures to prevent and control Covid-19 epidemic in the new situation

Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with the Director of the Department of Health about the province's Covid-19 prevention and control work.

PV: Could you please tell us about the situation and developments of the Covid-19 epidemic in the world, in Vietnam and in Nghe An province?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: According to a new report from the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, the world has now recorded 16,412,815 cases of Covid-19 in 215 countries and territories, with 652,039 deaths. 27 countries/territories have not recorded any deaths from Covid-19, including Vietnam. The epidemic continues to increase globally, spreading fastest in the US and South America. In addition, in India and some other Asian countries, the epidemic is still very complicated.

Mr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In Vietnam, there have been 431 cases recorded to date, of which 366 have been cured (84.7%), with no deaths. After 99 days without new cases, since July 25, 2020, 15 new cases of infection have appeared in our country, including 14 patients in Da Nang city and patient 419 in Quang Ngai province.

There is currently not enough evidence that the 15 newly announced cases have the same source of infection, the epidemic may have come from many sources and the outbreak started in the community. We have not yet been able to determine the F0 of these 15 new cases. The virus strain in the Da Nang patient is a new strain compared to the strains that already exist in Vietnam, a strain that has entered from outside. It can be said that the risk of infection and outbreak in Vietnam is at a high level, very complicated. Nationwide, there are 11,954 people in close contact, entering from epidemic areas who are being quarantined and monitored.

In Nghe An alone, no cases of Covid-19 have been detected; the epidemic situation is under good control. However, the province is at high risk of Covid-19 entering and spreading due to its large area, 419km long border, convenient transportation, illegal immigration to avoid quarantine and especially recently, many Nghe An people have gone to Da Nang city, Quang Ngai - localities with epidemics to study, work, and visit.

Staff of Nghe An Center for Disease Control take samples of citizens in the centralized quarantine area. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Up to now, there are over 3 thousand Nghe An people returning from Da Nang in the past 14 days. On July 26, 2020 alone, there were 670 people returning from Da Nang. These people are being closely monitored by health authorities and required to self-isolate at home. 4 cases returning from Da Nang with high risk are currently being quarantined and samples taken for testing for these 4 cases. The first test results, all 4/4 of these people were negative for Covid-19.

PV: Given the new developments of the epidemic, especially the risk of spreading from Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Nghe An, what preventive measures have been implemented?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: The achievements in the prevention and control of the epidemic in Nghe An in recent times are the great efforts of the Party Committee, government and people of the province. However, the fight against the epidemic is still very long; the epidemic will only end when the world has a vaccine and specific medicine. Therefore, we must always be vigilant and ready.

With this spirit of readiness to face, therefore, after the appearance of patient 416 in Da Nang, on July 25, 2020, the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of Nghe An province issued timely instructions on strengthening Covid-19 prevention and control in the province to districts, cities, towns, and medical units in the province.

Guiding and welcoming citizens at the centralized quarantine area. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The province has requested the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control at district level, communes, wards, towns, health departments, and health centers to review, make a list and immediately notify people who have been to Da Nang city, Quang Ngai province and have come into contact with Covid-19 patients, request isolation according to regulations, make medical declarations and coordinate with the Provincial Center for Disease Control to collect samples for Covid-19 testing according to regulations; make a list of cases in close contact with the above case; request medical isolation at home, place of residence, make medical declarations, update grassroots medical staff on health status twice a day (morning, afternoon); promptly notify local authorities and health agencies when there are signs of suspected illness (dry cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc.).

Request districts, cities, towns and medical units to closely organize, fully prepare facilities and equipment, ensure all conditions to perform the task of isolating subjects at concentrated isolation areas of the district; conduct body temperature checks and physical condition observations, conduct epidemiological investigations, early detection of suspected cases; organize isolation according to regulations and conduct sample collection; properly implement isolation measures, disinfection measures at families, households in direct contact (adjacent) and accommodation facilities where people are isolated; strengthen mobile teams for epidemic prevention and control, ensure 24/7 epidemic prevention and control work.

Ready for phase 3 of epidemic prevention and control. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The health sector has also requested medical examination and treatment facilities to continue to strictly implement instructions on screening, classification, flow, and control of patients coming for medical examination and treatment, limiting patient visits at medical facilities; reviewing equipment, medicines, supplies, and necessary means for internal and external emergency teams to be ready to perform tasks when mobilized; requiring departments, divisions, and units to make maximum preparations for phase 3 epidemic prevention and control.

At this time, all levels, sectors, localities and socio-political organizations in the province have been proactively and urgently reviewing and isolating citizens who have been to Da Nang city and Quang Ngai province in the past 14 days and implementing epidemic prevention and control measures.

PV: At this time, what difficulties are being faced in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic in Nghe An? And what solutions do we need to overcome them?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: The whole country in general and Nghe An in particular have entered phase 3 of the Covid-19 epidemic with more difficulties than the previous phase. In phases 1 and 2, we could easily control and quarantine infected cases returning from other countries right at the airport and border gates. In this phase 3, we are losing track of F0. The hardships and difficulties in preventing and fighting the epidemic in Da Nang have and will affect many other provinces and cities.

In this phase 3, Nghe An will be most affected by the epidemic when a large number of Nghe An people travel, study, work and live in Da Nang and Quang Ngai. In this phase, the nature of epidemic prevention and control is also different when isolation is not carried out in concentrated areas as before but in the community and medical facilities. This will make epidemic prevention and control more difficult, the responsibility of the health sector is greater. Meanwhile, at this time, Nghe An's health sector still faces certain shortages in equipment, protective gear... On the people's side, after a period of peace, subjective thoughts about the epidemic have appeared.

In this phase 3, Nghe An will be most affected by the epidemic when a large number of Nghe An people travel, study, work and live in Da Nang and Quang Ngai. Photo: Thanh Cuong

To effectively prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic during this period, the health sector in particular and all levels, sectors and localities in general must always be proactive in monitoring quarantine, medical declaration, proactively detecting suspected sources in localities and medical facilities; must raise the determination to detect F0 as soon as possible, not allowing it to spread widely. In addition, Nghe An also needs to continue to promote communication work, raising awareness of epidemic prevention and control among the people.

PV: Thank you!