Nghe An is about to welcome about 1,000 citizens from Ho Chi Minh City back to their hometown by plane.

On the morning of July 28, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control held a meeting to listen to and give opinions on Covid-19 prevention and control work in the past time and deploy tasks and solutions in the coming time.

Comrades: Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control; Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control co-chaired the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

NEARLY 10,000 CITIZENS REGISTERED TO RETURN

At the meeting, Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health reported that as of 7:00 a.m. on July 28, the province recorded 194 cases of Covid-19 infection in 14 localities. There are 9 localities that have had no new infections in the community for over 14 days, including: Vinh City, Dien Chau, Do Luong, Hoang Mai Town, Nghi Loc, Nghia Dan, Quy Hop, Tan Ky, Nam Dan.

After many days without new cases, on the morning of July 27, Nghe An announced two more cases of infection, who are employees of Minh An General Hospital (located in Quynh Luu district). So far, this cluster of cases has recorded 5 positive cases of Covid-19. The health sector has collected nearly 5,200 samples of F1 cases and related cases, and so far 4,500 samples have tested negative.

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health reported on the epidemic situation and proposed tasks and solutions for the coming time. Photo: Pham Bang

Assessing the epidemic situation in the coming time, the Director of the Department of Health said that the Covid-19 epidemic in the southern provinces is developing very complicatedly. The Department of Health has increased 140 medical staff for the southern provinces. It is expected that next week, about 60-80 more medical staff will be added.

In the province, due to the increasing number of people returning from the southern provinces in many forms, the risk of an outbreak of disease in the province is very high. In the last 4 days alone, nearly 3,000 people have returned from provinces and cities, especially the southern localities. The whole province has 22,708 people who have returned from localities across the country in the past 14 days.

Overview of the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. Photo: Pham Bang

In addition, the outbreak in Quynh Luu district is considered a complex outbreak with an incubation period of about 7-10 days. F0 cases have contact with many people, the potential risk of detecting new infections in the community is very high.

As of July 26, nearly 10,000 people in the southern provinces have registered to return to Nghe An through the website: dangkyveque.nghean.gov.vn. Of these, 4,546 are in Ho Chi Minh City; 3,621 are in Binh Duong and 1,041 are in Dong Nai.

Mr. Vi Ngoc Quynh - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs reported on the draft plan to welcome citizens from the southern provinces back home. Photo: Pham Bang

Currently, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is coordinating with the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to review the list of citizens to ensure the correct subjects and actual number. The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has also advised the Provincial People's Committee to develop a plan for the first phase to welcome citizens from the southern provinces who wish to return.

At the meeting, members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control gave their opinions on solutions in the coming time; plans to welcome citizens returning from the southern provinces; measures to quarantine returning citizens; control of people and vehicles from other provinces through checkpoints...

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control spoke at the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long requested the Public Security sector to strengthen the management of movement, the number of people entering and exiting, and vehicles passing through the province, especially strictly and seriously at checkpoints. The Military sector reviewed and expanded concentrated quarantine points to prepare for receiving a large number of returning citizens. The Health sector gathered the most specialized staff in the epidemic area to advise the Provincial People's Committee to issue the most effective solutions.

CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE AREA WELL, RAISE PEOPLE'S AWARENESS

Concluding the meeting, Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assessed that in the past time, the province has implemented quite effective measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic. Although the epidemic situation is quite complicated, up to now, the epidemic situation has been basically controlled, with only 1 new outbreak in Quynh Luu district, which is quite complicated.

In the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy", the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that in the coming time, we will continue to strengthen measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic in the spirit of promoting the achieved results but not being subjective or negligent.

All levels, sectors and localities must focus, seriously, resolutely, synchronously, proactively and promptly implement the directed epidemic prevention and control measures with the motto "4 on-site". Because in the past time, the epidemic prevention and control work in some localities has shown signs of slackening, many people have shown subjective signs.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control concluded the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

Localities must self-assess the epidemic risk in their areas to adjust and update scenarios, and propose epidemic prevention and control measures appropriate to the actual situation of each locality. It is necessary to rectify existing shortcomings and limitations, and individualize the responsibilities of each individual. In particular, it is necessary to strengthen the management of people returning from localities, especially localities with epidemics and implementing social isolation according to Directive 16 of the Prime Minister.

The Public Security sector is responsible for monitoring and managing population changes in the entire province. In this work, there must be participation from grassroots Party committees and authorities, and the heads of grassroots Party committees and authorities must be responsible for the management of the area; at the same time, mobilizing the active participation of organizations, unions and people.

The head of the provincial People's Committee also requested to organize well the control of people and vehicles passing through the gateways to Vinh city and other localities. It is necessary to re-evaluate the operation of the checkpoints to adjust them to the actual situation, bringing higher efficiency. Localities along National Highway 1 must strengthen the control of providing essential services to long-distance drivers, and not sell food on the spot to avoid spreading the epidemic.

Continue to carry out communication and propaganda work well to raise people's awareness and consciousness of epidemic prevention and control measures, because people are the most important line of defense on the epidemic prevention and control front. Strictly implement the work of ensuring security and order, strictly handle violations. Call on people to strictly comply with and actively support Party committees and authorities at all levels in epidemic prevention and control work. In particular, cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers in state agencies must strictly comply to set an example.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Health sector to prepare the best plan for vaccination according to the Central Government's allocation schedule to ensure compliance with the plan and goals. In addition to priority subjects, it is necessary to consider vaccinating drivers and businesses that contribute greatly to the province... Pay attention to supporting quarantine and testing costs for those in difficult circumstances who voluntarily return to their hometowns. The Health sector proactively purchases equipment and supplies to ensure adequate work for Covid-19 prevention and control, avoiding passivity and shortages.

Standing members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control attended the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

EXPECTED TO WELCOME CITIZENS BACK IN EARLY AUGUST

Regarding the plan to welcome Nghe An citizens from Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces who want to return, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested to strictly follow the direction of the Government, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee and in accordance with the actual situation in the provinces and cities.

When deploying to receive citizens, there must be a written notice to the localities about the number of people, time, means of transport, and method of organization of the reception. The province agreed to divide into batches to ensure safety for the people and localities, in accordance with the actual situation and quarantine capacity of the province.

According to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the province will initially welcome the first batch of about 1,000 people from Ho Chi Minh City returning to their hometowns in two groups. The first group prioritizes people with serious illnesses, long-term illnesses; pregnant women, women with young children; the elderly, the disabled, and children, with about 600 people. The second group is those who have the conditions and ability to pay for their own airfare, quarantine, testing, and other expenses.

Provincial leaders encouraged medical staff to go to Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Regarding transportation, the province agreed that the first phase will transport these subjects back to their hometowns by plane. For the first group, the entire airfare will be supported from the following sources: the provincial Covid-19 prevention and control fund; and businesses with contributions. For the second group, they must pay for their own airfare and return according to the plan registered and agreed with the airline.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung stated that the citizens who are welcomed back will be quarantined at the province's centralized quarantine areas; at paid quarantine locations such as hotels in Vinh City and Cua Lo Town. The first group will be supported with all expenses for food, accommodation, and testing. At paid quarantine locations, those in need will be notified to register.

Regarding the time of reception, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that we should try to do it in early August. Sectors and units must adhere to the plan and options to properly and fully implement assigned tasks, and actively coordinate to safely and effectively receive citizens. In addition, we need to strengthen communication and information so that people understand the humanity and positive meaning of the plan. The Military Command has prepared quarantine plans in case of positive cases and will receive citizens returning from abroad when directed by the Government and the Prime Minister./.