Nghe An: Strengthening prevention of Omicron variant, reducing deaths from Covid-19

Recently, the Provincial People's CommitteeNghe Anhas just issued two Official Dispatches No. 10099/UBND-VX and 10100/UBND-VX with the contents "on instructions for monitoring and preventing Covid-19 variants"Omicron; management and protection of people at risk of Covid-19" and "On continuing to implement measures to reduce deaths due to Covid-19"; sent to the Department of Health, departments, branches, provincial units and People's Committees of districts, cities and towns of Nghe An province.

Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Health to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments, branches, units and localities to implement the requirements of the Ministry of Health in Official Dispatch No. 10737/BYT-DP dated December 17, 2021, Official Dispatch No. 10815/BYT-DP dated December 21, 2021, and Official Dispatch No. 2146/CD-BYT dated December 22, 2021.

The Ministry of Health requests: Review all cases of entry from November 28, 2021 with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results. Photo courtesy

Official dispatch 10737/BYT-DP clearly states: The People's Committees of provinces and cities direct departments, branches, unions, political and socio-political organizations to review all cases entering the country from November 28, 2021 with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results using NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) and PCR within 14 days (from the date of entry), coordinate with the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur Institutes to assess the epidemiology, collect test samples and send them to the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur to conduct gene sequencing tests to identify the Omicron variant. In case of recording a person positive for the Omicron variant, continue to review and collect test samples of people in close contact and have previously tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, send them to the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur for testing and gene sequencing to identify the Omicron variant.

Strengthen the surveillance system to promptly detect outbreaks and clusters of cases with unusual developments and characteristics (number of cases, severe developments or hospitalizations, deaths increase abnormally over time, geographical area, specific subjects, etc.), on that basis, proactively coordinate with the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur to collect samples for surveillance, research to detect new variants/strains.

Immediately organize the injection of the allocated amount of vaccine to increase the COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate, paying attention to the injection of subjects who have not been or have not received enough doses in the area. In addition, it is necessary to deploy additional and enhanced doses of vaccine for risk subjects according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

Dispatch 2146/CD-BYT stated: Provinces and centrally-run cities continue to pay attention to directing the review of the response capacity of COVID-19 admission and treatment facilities; continue to improve the quality of treatment at all levels. Provide and ensure adequate supply of drugs, consumables, equipment, personal protective equipment; ensure oxygen from the grassroots level to hospitals on floors 1, 2, and 3. Continue to invest resources to expand and strengthen intensive care capacity. Mobilize state and private medical facilities to participate in COVID-19 treatment and achieve the dual goal of both implementing regular medical examination and treatment and participating in COVID-19 treatment and intensive care.

At the same time, direct units to fully implement the "Classification of risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and orientation of handling, isolation, and treatment" right from the health station, community COVID team to the admission and treatment facilities. The health station makes a list of F0 cases at home and divides them into risk groups for management; closely monitors SpO2 index to assess severe cases and promptly transfers them. Admission and treatment facilities classify patients' risks right from the time of admission, and at the same time assess the clinical level and progression of the disease to channel them to appropriate departments and wards, convenient for monitoring, care, and treatment.

Strongly and comprehensively deploy the "Campaign to protect high-risk subjects" with the following measures: Review subjects who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, especially focus on high- and very high-risk subjects to fully vaccinate them immediately with enough doses and prevent infection for high-risk subjects.

Treating Covid-19 patients. Photo: Tat Ngoc

Arrange each COVID-19 treatment hospital to have at least “2 treatment floors” to facilitate treatment and transfer within the hospital. Absolutely avoid transferring floors when it is too late. Strengthen the emergency system, transport patients from the community to the hospital and between hospitals. Rebuild the human resources and shift plan, minimize the number of medical staff on duty for more than 8 hours a day.

Continue to mobilize the participation of the community and the network of volunteers, "Companion Doctors", charity organizations, dedicated people, recovered COVID-19 patients, private health care, local authorities, and residential groups to participate in consulting, treating, caring for, and managing people infected with SARS-CoV-2 at home. When necessary, mobilize family members and volunteer teams to care for and monitor patients at treatment facilities.

In particular, pay attention to developing and supplementing policies, regimes and specific forms of financial and non-financial incentives for medical staff and networks participating in consulting, treating and caring for people infected with SARS-CoV-2, people working in intensive care centers and COVID-19 admission and treatment facilities. Encourage and provide psychological support for medical staff, those working in long-term COVID-19 treatment areas, under prolonged stress, and under a lot of pressure and burden of fighting the epidemic.

Apply information technology solutions to manage cases and operations and management. Strengthen local statistics and reporting on the software https://cdc.kcb.vn to have accurate and timely information and instructions. Update and monitor the admission and treatment of patients on each floor and the number of empty beds to receive new patients. Check, evaluate and analyze the treatment work in the previous period to learn from experience and make appropriate adjustments./.