Nghe An Department of Health develops response scenario to increased risk of Covid-19 during Tet

On January 20, the Department of Health issued a document on strengthening measures to prevent and control epidemics and ensure medical work during the Lunar New Year 2022 to districts, cities, towns and medical units inside and outside the public sector.

Accordingly, the Department of Health requested the People's Committees of districts, towns and Vinh city to focus on directing the strict and drastic implementation of epidemic prevention and control solutions in accordance with the directions of the Government, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the Provincial People's Committee and the guidance of the health sector; adapting and being flexible in the new situation, but ensuring effectiveness in epidemic prevention and control; especially complying with the "5K" measures and communicating to raise people's awareness of protecting their own health, their families' and the community's health, absolutely not being negligent, subjective, or losing vigilance; encouraging people to proactively declare their health and perform SARS-CoV-2 screening tests when there are suspicious signs such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing, etc. (especially those returning from other localities across the country).

At the same time, it is necessary to develop a plan to prevent and control epidemics during the 2022 Lunar New Year. Focus on epidemic prevention and control in densely populated areas, large urban areas, industrial parks; times when people and workers move back to their hometowns, return to the city to work and produce; monitor and manage cases of entry from abroad to detect early, prevent spreading to the community, especially, maximize the role of community COVID teams in monitoring population movements. Strengthen inspection and supervision of epidemic prevention and control work in the area, especially at production, business and service establishments. Direct competent authorities to handle the responsibilities of heads of violating units and establishments, and handle violating organizations and individuals according to regulations.

The Department of Health also requires directors of medical units within the scope of their functions, tasks and powers to uphold the responsibility of the head, focus on leadership, direction and organization of strict and effective implementation of disease prevention and control work and ensure medical work during the 2022 Lunar New Year.

Medical units are assigned key tasks such as developing and implementing plans to ensure medical work during the 2022 Lunar New Year; focusing on the highest efforts for COVID-19 prevention and control; closely monitoring and following the epidemic situation, especially for the Omicron variant. Assigning 24/7 duty to unit leaders and employees in a reasonable, scientific and effective manner; publicly posting the daily duty list according to regulations. Coordinate with relevant units to ensure security, order, safety, fire prevention and fighting; promptly and effectively handle and resolve arising tasks and situations, quickly returning to normal operations right after the Tet holiday. Strictly implement the information and reporting regime during the Tet holiday according to regulations on the epidemic situation; medical examination and treatment, accident emergency; food poisoning, drug supply...; ensure completeness, timeliness and punctuality.

Leaders of the Department of Health inspect a medical unit on epidemic prevention work during Tet. Photo: Trung Thanh

The Provincial Center for Disease Control is assigned to coordinate with relevant units to organize communication and disseminate knowledge to units and people in the area about disease prevention and control in the winter - spring; raise people's awareness about getting enough vaccines, testing, isolation, treatment, especially strictly implementing "5K" in COVID-19 prevention and control; Proactively provide information and coordinate with local press agencies to promptly inform about medical work during Tet.

District health centers are responsible for taking the lead and closely coordinating with the People's Committees at the commune level and relevant forces in the area to be more proactive in advising the People's Committees at the district level to direct the organization and implementation of management of high-risk groups in the area; organize screening, statistics, and management of people in high-risk groups to have plans to ensure safety in disease prevention and control; mobilize forces to support the organization of COVID-19 vaccination; ensure strict implementation of isolation at places of residence and at centralized isolation areas in the area in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Health.

Public and non-public medical examination and treatment facilities are responsible for reviewing and strengthening the admission and treatment capacity of medical facilities in the area to effectively carry out routine medical examination and treatment and intensive care for COVID-19 (especially COVID-19 admission and treatment facilities at the district level). Be ready to respond to the scenario of the new Omicron variant increasing the number of cases requiring hospitalization. Improve the efficiency of triage, reception, and referral between treatment levels, promote professional support from upper-level units to lower-level units. Strengthen the capacity for emergency transportation and referral of patients from the community, lower-level hospitals to higher-level hospitals and between hospitals in the area.

For localities implementing the work of monitoring and caring for COVID-19 patients at home or at their place of residence, it is recommended to strengthen supervision, regularly contact and encourage patients to feel secure in maintaining monitoring and treatment. Implement the work of handling infectious waste according to regulations. Provide hotline phone numbers for patients, ensuring timely and immediate medical support for patients. Strengthen the application of information technology, ensure necessary equipment and facilities for consultation, remote treatment consultation, support for monitoring and managing patients in the community, and coordinate referrals. Instill in medical staff a sense of responsibility and service awareness, meeting the standards of communication rules, conduct, and service attitude of medical staff towards patients and their relatives when coming to medical facilities for examination and treatment.

The Department of Health also requires policies and incentives for medical staff, especially doctors, nurses, and those participating in long-term epidemic prevention and control work, working in COVID-19 treatment areas... to develop a plan to provide good care, visit, and wish a happy new year to inpatients, especially those in difficult circumstances, the poor, and those under the policy. Prepare enough medical oxygen; have a plan to reserve a certain amount of medicine, blood, infusion fluids, supplies, chemicals, equipment, arrange a certain number of hospital beds, and emergency vehicles, ready to respond and serve treatment and emergency work.