Nghe An is ready for all situations to prevent Covid-19 epidemic

Thanh Son - Thanh Cuong• March 24, 2020 15:29

(Baonghean.vn) - "Even if Nghe An has to face infections caused by objective reasons, we have prepared and prepared response plans..." - Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh, Director of Nghe An Department of Health, affirmed to Nghe An Newspaper.

PV: Could you please tell us about the current situation and developments of the Covid-19 epidemic?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: The current situation of the epidemic is very complicated. In the world, the Covid-19 epidemic has entered phase 3. Phase 1, the epidemic was concentrated in China, phase 2 moved to South Korea, Iran and Italy; phase 3, the epidemic spread throughout Europe, the US and even Southeast Asian countries.

As of the evening of March 23, 1,805 people were being quarantined and monitored in Nghe An province to prevent and fight the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In Vietnam, the Covid-19 epidemic has now entered phase 2, which is a very fierce phase. The number of patients is increasing rapidly, with more than 100 cases in 3 weeks. From phase 1 with only 16 positive cases, it has now reached 123 positive cases. However, it is also very fortunate that thanks to strong measures such as timely and drastic isolation, the rate of cross-infection is very low, with most of the cases originating from international students or foreigners.

As for Nghe An, up to this point we have not had any cases of Covid-19. This is a very fortunate thing as Nghe An people work and live in many places both domestically and internationally. Nghe An people returning from countries with epidemics are quarantined as soon as they arrive at the international airport.

The province is drastically implementing epidemic prevention plans, with the participation of the entire political system and all people. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In addition to the lucky factor, Nghe An has strictly and vigorously implemented prevention measures right from the beginning of the epidemic season, which is to monitor and detect people returning from other countries, especially those returning from epidemic areas, to quarantine them early. Currently, all cases returning from epidemic areas have gone through a 14-day quarantine period.

PV:Please let me knowCurrently, how is Nghe An implementing quarantine for citizens returning from abroad?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: Currently, Nghe An is implementing centralized quarantine for citizens returning from Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Thailand... In which, citizens returning from Laos are the majority. At this time, Laos has just announced 2 cases of Covid-19 infection. We need to be extremely vigilant because the rate of foreigners and European tourists coming to this country is very high. During the quarantine process, Nghe An has been, is, and continues to conduct screening to detect more people at high risk.

At this time, Nghe An has continued to form more centralized quarantine areas. In addition to military quarantine areas, Nghe An has formed provincial quarantine areas along Route 7 in Ky Son, Tuong Duong and Con Cuong. These 3 quarantine areas are expected to be able to quarantine 800 people. On March 23, the quarantine area in Ky Son officially received citizens for quarantine.

Nghe An is implementing centralized quarantine for citizens returning from Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Thailand... In which, citizens returning from Laos are mainly. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In the meeting of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Nghe An, the Provincial Party Secretary assigned the Provincial Military Command, the health sector and related sectors and localities to prepare the next quarantine locations well to ensure the best centralized quarantine for citizens returning from Laos and Thailand through Cha Lo border gate (Quang Binh), Cau Treo (Ha Tinh) and Nam Can (Nghe An)... On the health sector side, we are always ready to provide quarantine services for up to 10,000 people.

Currently, the quarantine work in Nghe An will have to focus on the issue that Nghe An people are studying and working in epidemic-hit provinces in the country. Contact between Nghe An people and sources of infection is inevitable. For example, recently in Vinh city, a couple went to Bach Mai Hospital for treatment and had very close contact with patient number 86; or a railway employee had close contact with a French tourist - patient number 76. Fortunately, the first test of these cases is negative.

Reporter: Although our province has not had any positive cases of Covid-19, people in Nghe An are very worried. As the head of the health sector, can you tell people clearly about the scenario if we encounter the worst-case scenario?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: Currently, Nghe An is actively and promptly preventing the Covid-19 epidemic with the full participation of forces, departments, localities and all people. For example, when the police force heard that there was a passenger on a bus suspected of being infected with Covid-19, they immediately set up a checkpoint, stopped the bus, and escorted all passengers to centralized quarantine... It must be said that Nghe An is making great efforts to prevent the epidemic.

Công dân khai báo y tế tại khu cách ly. Ảnh: Thành Cường

Citizens make health declarations at the quarantine area. Photo: Thanh Cuong

For a long time, our people have been cautious and worried about the epidemic, which is right. However, we need to be vigilant against unofficial information. Excessive anxiety has caused fake news and misinformation to spread, spreading from one to ten. This has happened even among medical staff. This confusion is unnecessary.

People need to clearly identify: Even if Nghe An has to face infections due to objective causes, we have prepared and prepared response plans. With cases, our response scenario is to focus best on treating patients, investigating and isolating those who have had close contact with patients.

Currently, each hospital has established treatment areas with at least 10 beds; each of the 8 core anti-epidemic hospitals has 20 beds; ready to treat positive patients. All medical units have established rapid response teams, ready to bring in cases in concentrated quarantine areas with the disease for treatment.

With the cases, our response scenario is to focus best on treating patients, investigating and isolating those who have had close contact with the patients. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Currently, all cases of centralized quarantine from countries and localities with epidemics have been sampled, sent for testing and all have negative results for Covid-19. In the coming time, Nghe An will continue to strengthen monitoring, testing, and detecting cases as soon as possible if any.

Reporter: The National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control and the Ministry of Health have just issued an official dispatch allowing the expansion of initial testing to detect Covid-19 cases. How will the expanded testing be implemented in Nghe An?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: The policy of expanding testing comes from the practical requirements of Covid-19 prevention when the number of subjects needing testing is large, especially when the scope is expanded from only testing suspected people to testing all people in quarantine.

In Nghe An, the number of people currently undergoing centralized quarantine is very large, while the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology is overloaded with testing requirements and the province itself does not have a Covid-19 testing system. Therefore, Nghe An is currently collecting all test samples from quarantined people, and sending samples from suspected cases for early testing.

Nghe An is actively and promptly preventing the Covid-19 epidemic with the full participation of forces, departments, localities and all people. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The health sector has reported the policy of expanding testing to the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee. The Provincial Party Secretary has directed to create the most favorable financial conditions for the health sector to purchase a testing system. While waiting for the system, the health sector is contacting the Ministry of Health to learn about rapid testing methods to bring them back for early testing for the people. After having rapid testing methods and equipment, the health sector will screen all citizens in quarantine. In case of overload of quarantined people in concentrated quarantine areas at the provincial level, some of the screened people will be transferred to quarantine at district quarantine areas.

Reporter: Recently, in Vietnam, there has been information that anti-malarial drugs can treat Covid-19. This information has caused people to frantically buy and hoard the drugs, pushing the drug prices up very high, and some people have been poisoned by taking the drugs. Do you have any recommendations for people about this information?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: It must be affirmed: Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent or specific treatment for Covid-19 in the world. Information about immunotherapy or new treatment drugs is in the form of a few published scientific articles and has not been clinically tested. The World Health Organization has not announced that there is a vaccine to prevent or specific treatment, we should not be vague about this.

When using medicine to prevent or treat diseases, a doctor's prescription is always required. Wrong dosage or wrong combination is extremely dangerous. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Recently, there was an emergency case due to self-purchase of Chloroquine to prevent Covid-19. This is very unfortunate. All people need to be aware: Medicine can save people but can also cause illness. When using medicine to prevent and treat illness, a doctor's prescription is always required. Wrong dosage or wrong combination is extremely dangerous. The only person allowed to prescribe is a doctor. Only doctors with a practice certificate and clinical experience can prescribe and combine safe and effective use of medicine.

PV: Thank you!