Nghe An Department of Health issues urgent dispatch to strengthen prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemic

On the morning of December 4, Nghe An Department of Health issued Official Dispatch No. 4416/SYT-NVY on strengthening the implementation of Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control to Vinh Medical University, Provincial Center for Disease Control, Medical Centers of districts, towns, cities and medical examination and treatment facilities in and outside the province.

Nghe An Department of Health requested Vinh Medical University to coordinate withNghe An Department of Healthand related units organized training for 4th and 5th year medical students on Covid-19 prevention and control activities; ready to carry out tasks in case the Covid-19 epidemic spreads widely in Nghe An province.

RequestProvincial Center for Disease Control: Advise on developing plans, scenarios, and drills on epidemic prevention and control according to specific plans when organizing events and activities with large crowds in the area; organize inspections and monitor epidemic prevention and control activities at high-risk locations; strictly handle violations, especially those who do not wear masks in public places and crowded places.

The provincial Center for Disease Control prepares a plan for large-scale testing when required for disease prevention and control; strictly implements procedures for immigration management and medical quarantine at border gates; monitors and updates the health status of entrants daily during quarantine and medical supervision; strictly reviews and checks SARS-CoV-2 negative test certificates for all cases of experts entering the country from abroad.

Nghe An Department of Health requests the Health Centers of districts, cities and towns: Direct the Health Stations of communes, wards and towns to take the lead in implementing health declaration, verification, and making a list of cases coming to and staying in Ho Chi Minh City who have returned to their localities by all means of transport, requesting self-health monitoring; suspected cases of the disease, cases in close contact with sick people or high-risk areas according to the announcements of the Ministry of Health must be closely monitored, monitored for health status, tested for screening and quarantined appropriately.

Strictly implement measuresCovid-19 preventionat centralized quarantine facilities in the area; absolutely do not let infection spread in quarantine facilities and from quarantine facilities to the community, especially when implementing quarantine at accommodation facilities, hotels or non-military quarantine units; strictly handle cases of dishonest medical declaration and failure to implement quarantine according to regulations.

At this time, hospitals in the province have all completed their Covid-19 prevention and control steering committees; established rapid response teams, ready to respond to epidemic situations. At Nghe An Endocrinology Hospital, patients coming for examination have their temperature measured by medical staff and wash their hands with antiseptic solution. Photo courtesy of PV

The Medical Centers of districts, cities and towns advise the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to direct the organization of inspections, resolutely urge the implementation of the proposed epidemic prevention and control measures, and implement the "5K" in epidemic prevention and control as recommended by the Ministry of Health; first of all, mandatory mask wearing and disinfection in isolated areas, concentrated residential areas, public places such as markets, supermarkets, schools, production facilities, bus stations, ports, airports, train stations..., on public transport, especially at medical examination and treatment facilities. Accommodation facilities, schools, medical examination and treatment facilities regularly self-assess the implementation of requirements and instructions on epidemic prevention and control, and publicly disclose the self-assessment results on the epidemic prevention map system;

Nghe An Department of Health requestspublic and private medical facilities: Continue to implement the assessment according to the "Set of criteria for safe hospitals to prevent and control Covid-19 and acute respiratory infections", "Set of criteria for safe clinics to prevent and control Covid-19 and acute respiratory infections"; strictly implement screening, triage, isolation, and testing of all suspected cases; review departments with high-risk patients such as intensive care, geriatric treatment departments, hemodialysis, cardiology, respiratory... strictly control people entering and exiting, not allowing or minimizing the care of patients' relatives.

Nghe An CDC takes samples for Covid-19 testing. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

Public and non-public medical examination and treatment facilities continue to increase the application of information technology in medical consultation, examination and treatment activities; require all medical staff, patients, and visitors to install and enable the tracing application and medical declaration application if using smart mobile devices; have a form of priority flow for people coming for examination and treatment who have installed and enabled the tracing application; expand the application of information technology in registering for medical examination and treatment appointments, health consultation, and remote medical examination; update treatment regimens, reserve drugs, supplies, and equipment to be ready to receive and treat patients with COVID-19.Covid-19; prepare preventive treatment facilities when Covid-19 epidemic occurs in the area, when the hospital is locked down.