Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam: Trying within 10 days to isolate and contain the epidemic

On the afternoon of January 28, 2021, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control held an online conference on COVID-19 prevention and control nationwide. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, chaired the conference.

Nghe An bridge point attended the conference. Photo: Thanh Chung

Blockade of Chi Linh city, temporary suspension of Van Don airport operations

At the conference, the National Steering Committee for Epidemic PreventionCOVID-19has thoroughly grasped the content of Directive 05/CT-TTg dated January 28, 2021 of the Prime Minister on a number of urgent measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic.

Directive 05/CT-TTg clearly states: In Vietnam, on January 27 and 28, 2021, many positive cases were recorded in the community due to the new variant of the virus (72 cases at Poyun Factory, Cong Hoa Industrial Park, Chi Linh city, province).Hai Duongand 11 cases related to security staff at Van Don airport in Quang Ninh province); is the largest community infection case ever, with the risk of spreading rapidly and widely.

To quickly and effectively control and thoroughly suppress the epidemic, preventing it from spreading in the community, the Prime Minister requests Hai Duong province to: Lock down the entire city of Chi Linh in Hai Duong province and strictly apply measures according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020 of the Prime Minister. Implement social distancing in the entire city for 21 days from 12:00 on January 28, 2021 according to the principle of isolating families from families, villages from villages, communes from communes, and wards from wards. Temporarily suspend all school activities, public activities, entertainment facilities, crowded gatherings, and non-essential business activities.

Temporarily suspend public passenger transport from Chi Linh city to the outside, except for official reasons or when absolutely necessary. Minimize the operation of personal vehicles. Ensure smooth operation of transporting goods and production materials.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province decided to apply measures to close and stop the operation of establishments that do not ensure epidemic prevention safety; direct rapid tracing, zoning, epidemic suppression, large-scale testing and centralized isolation of close contacts for 21 days; based on the risk level of each area in the locality, decide to apply blockade and social distancing measures according to Directive No. 15/CT-TTg dated March 27, 2020 and Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020.

For the provinceQuang Ninh: Temporarily suspend the operation of Van Don International Airport from 12:00 on January 28, 2021; The Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province decided to apply measures to close and stop the operation of facilities that do not ensure epidemic prevention safety; direct rapid tracing, zoning, epidemic suppression, large-scale testing and centralized isolation of close contacts for 21 days; based on the risk level of each area in the locality, decide to apply blockade and social distancing measures according to Directive No. 15/CT-TTg dated March 27, 2020 and Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020.

Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities focus on directing the review and tightening of epidemic prevention and control measures in the locality, especially in medical facilities, schools, industrial parks, factories, and areas with frequent large gatherings; decide to apply blockade and social distancing measures based on the risk level in each locality; request people to strictly implement solutions on wearing masks, limiting large gatherings, and keeping distance in public places; strengthen inspection of the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures, and strictly handle violations.

Try within 10 days to contain the epidemic

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam stated: 2 "epidemic hotbeds" inHai Duong and Quang NinhThere is the largest community transmission case ever. Preliminary assessment is that in these two localities, the epidemic had been spreading for at least 10 days before being detected. The positive cases are due to a new variant of the virus, spreading very quickly.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, speaks at the conference. Photo: suckhoedoisong

The Deputy Prime Minister said: The reason why there were so many positive cases immediately was because we conducted mass testing, prioritizing testing of highly suspected cases. Tonight and tomorrow morning, it is very likely that more positive cases will be found thanks to testing. However, we should not be too panicked or worried because all the high-risk and most dangerous cases have been isolated and quarantined. We have taken very large samples for testing. The lockdown is very inconvenient, but we have no other choice.

In Hai Duong and Quang Ninh, we must focus on ensuring safety at hospitals. All doctors and physicians must be on higher alert than before. The epidemic is especially dangerous if it spreads to medical staff. All inpatients must be tested, to avoid a recurrence like in Da Nang city.

Looking at the two "epidemic hotbeds" in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh, it is clear that COVID-19 prevention and control must not be subjective, negligent, or lose vigilance, especially in localities that have never had a case of COVID-19. The story in Chi Linh City and Van Don Airport is very likely to be repeated in other localities.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam requested: Localities must focus on implementing the Ministry of Health's 5K recommendations; focus on detecting infected cases, isolating and immediately suppressing the epidemic. We must anticipate all situations, the worst case, F1 must be considered as F0, F2 must be considered as F1. All prevention and control steps must be resolutely implemented from the beginning, otherwise the consequences will be unpredictable. Provinces and cities must strictly enforce the wearing of masks in public places, conduct inspections and strictly punish non-compliance. Provinces and cities must rectify their COVID-19 prevention and control work for the peace of the people.

Currently, there are 3 main sources of disease: The first is the pathogen in the community, which is very unpredictable. To prevent it, we must follow the 5K recommendations well. Wherever the pathogen appears, it must be detected and isolated immediately; The second pathogen comes from people who enter the country legally. To prevent it, we must do a good job of medical declaration from school, medical isolation and home quarantine monitoring after centralized quarantine; The third pathogen comes from people who enter the country illegally. To prevent it, we must launch a nationwide movement to fight against these cases, people must pledge that their family members from abroad do not enter the country illegally, and declare cases of illegal return from abroad.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam affirmed: We have the determination and confidence to defeat COVID-19. What we need to do now is to race against time and try to contain the outbreak within 10 days. In addition, we all must be extremely calm and responsible, and cannot be subjective.

Nghe An focuses on screening cases returning from Hai Duong and Quang Ninh from January 15 to present.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long requested: Localities focus on reviewing cases returning from Hai Duong and Quang Ninh from January 15 to present. Photo: Thanh Chung

The District Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control shall make a list of those who have been in close contact with the above case; request medical isolation at home or at their place of residence; make medical declarations; update local medical staff on their health status twice a day (morning and afternoon); promptly notify local authorities and medical agencies when there are signs of suspected illness (dry cough, fever, difficulty breathing, etc.).

The Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control at the district level directed the People's Committees of communes/wards/towns, the Health Department, and the Health Center to coordinate with relevant units to review, make a list and immediately notify people who have come to and returned from Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces within 14 days (from January 15 onwards) who are present in the area, recommend self-monitoring at home, place of residence, make health declarations, update grassroots medical staff on health status twice a day (morning and afternoon); promptly notify local authorities and health agencies when there are signs of suspected illness (dry cough, fever, difficulty breathing, etc.);

Public and non-public medical examination and treatment facilities: Regularly maintain the assessment of the set of safety criteria in COVID-19 prevention and control at the unit, focusing on: screening, classifying, channeling, controlling patients coming for medical examination and treatment, limiting visits and questioning of patients at medical facilities. Immediately notify the local Health Center when detecting cases of citizens who have come to and returned from Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces within 14 days with suspected signs of the disease.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested: When detecting a suspected case, medical examination and treatment facilities must immediately bring it to the clinic, perform diagnosis and testing. Clinics must be fully equipped. During this time, if a medical examination and treatment facility has an inpatient with cough, fever, or respiratory infection, samples must be taken; do not be subjective. Medical examination and treatment facilities must review all machinery and human resources; minimize referrals; and focus on isolating and treating positive cases wherever they are detected, including remote areas. Nghe An Department of Health needs to strengthen inspections of medical examination and treatment facilities.

The Provincial Center for Disease Control needs to coordinate with relevant units to strengthen monitoring, screening, making lists and immediately notifying people who have come to and returned from Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces in the past 14 days who are present in the area, to make medical declarations, organize quarantine and health monitoring according to regulations; organize monitoring and take samples for testing of suspected cases in the community, pneumonia, acute respiratory infections at medical facilities to detect cases early and isolate and suppress the epidemic; fully prepare equipment, human resources, and biological products for testing against the epidemic...