Identifying 7 risks from Bach Mai 'epidemic', focusing on detecting Covid-19 infections in the community

On the morning of March 30, the Ministry of Health held an online conference to improve the quality of grassroots healthcare in the prevention and control of the Covid 19 epidemic. Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen chaired the conference.

At Nghe An bridge, Dr. Dau Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Health presided; in addition, there were bridge points at the Provincial General Hospital and at the People's Committees of districts and cities.

Nghe An bridge participating in the online conference. Photo: Thanh Chung

At the conference, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen stated: As of this morning, Vietnam has had 194 cases of Covid-19 infection, of which 25 people have recovered, and it is expected that today there will be 30 more people discharged from the hospital.

VietnamThere are 3 sources of infection, including: Source of infection from foreign tourists, source of infection from Vietnamese people returning from abroad and source of infection from treating infected patients. Of which, people bringing the epidemic back from abroad account for 70% of the cases.

Currently, Vietnam has 2 major outbreaks: Buddha Bar (Ho Chi Minh City) and Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi). At Bach Mai Hospital alone, there are 3 outbreaks: the Tropical Center, the Neurology Department and the Hospital Canteen.

There are 5 risk groups from Bach Mai Hospital, including: 1) Group of patients treated at Bach Mai Hospital who have been discharged from the hospital, patients transferred to lower-level treatment; 2) Group of medical staff at Bach Mai Hospital; 3) Group of students coming to Bach Mai Hospital to study and practice; 4) Group of people serving patients (patients' relatives, people hired to serve patients); 5) Group of hospital service staff (canteen service staff, drivers, security guards, environmental sanitation workers); 6) Group of people working at Truong Sinh Company, which is considered an epidemic hotspot; 7) Network of hired patient care services with about 800 people, working in all hospitals.

Taking body temperature and screening cases at risk of Covid-19 infection. Photo: Thanh Chung

In response to this request, at the conference, the Departments of Preventive Medicine, Medical Examination and Treatment, and Environmental Management also presented plans and methods to detect and contain the spread of the disease to the community for the grassroots health system...

Besides, localities also shared experiences in disease prevention and control in recent times./.