More negative nCoV cases discharged from hospital

On Thursday (February 6) morning, the Department of Health of Lao Cai Province informed that the two remaining local patients suspected of having nCoV were sent to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and were tested negative for nCoV. Up until now, all 12 patients’ samples from Lao Cai have been tested negative for the deadly virus.

Accordingly, from January 25 to February 4, Lao Cai medical facilities isolated and monitored 29 patients with fevers, some with pneumonia symptoms. They have been examined and treated in isolation areas at local hospitals. After classifying, the Centre for Disease Control of Lao Cai collected 12 samples from 12 patients and sent them to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. The other cases is under observation and have been ruled out the possibility of nCoV infection.

On February 4, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology announced all the results of Lao Cai's medical samples, determining that all the 12 samples were negative for nCoV. After receiving the test results, Lao Cai hospitals conducted health check and went through the discharge procedures for all 12 patients.

* On February 6, Colonel Phan Hong Phuc, Director of Military Hospital 120 in My Tho City, Tien Giang Province, said that the health of the hospital’s three doctors and seven employees are stable without any fever or cough, as they are still under isolated monitoring for nCoV prevention in the coming days.

Doctors and staff of Military Hospital 120 in My Tho City, Tien Giang Province are under isolated surveillance with stable health. (Photo: NDO)

Earlier, they had contact with five Chinese who were factory managers at a garment company in Mo Cay Bac District, Ben Tre Province, who visited Military Hospital 120 on February 3 for health checks. These Chinese nationals come from Jiangxi Province. Previously, on January 23, they moved from Vietnam to China by air. On January 29 and 30, they returned to Vietnam via air, with one among them stopping en route by Wuhan City – the centre of the epidemic. However, the five Chinese nationals’ medical test results were within normal limits and they returned to Ben Tre and continued to be under close monitoring.

The Military Medical Hospital 120 has immediately established an isolation area with 20 beds, equipped with medical facilities to cope with the occurrence of the nCoV epidemic, while providing specialised training for doctors and staff. So far, Tien Giang has not confirmed any cases of nCoV infection yet. The provincial authorities have asked for a thorough implementation of the preventive measures against the spread of nCoV in the locality.

* On the same day, Deputy Director of Dak Nong Department of Health, Ha Van Hung, informed that all three cases of isolated patients treated with suspected nCoV infection in the province had negative sample test results. Up to now, in Dak Nong there has not been a positive case for the new strain of corona virus.

A special isolation area for treatment of patients suspected of being infected with nCoV in Dak Nong Province. (Photo: NDO)

Previously, on the afternoon of February 4, Dak Glong District Health Centre received two patients, H.T.D (24 years old) and L.T.C (3 years old), who were hospitalised with signs of mild fevers and sore throats. They returned to Vietnam from Yunnan Province (China) on January 30. Meanwhile, N.T.H, 29, in Dak Wer Commune, Dak R'Lap District, also received treatment from Dak R'Lap District Health Centre on the afternoon of February 3 with a high fever, cough and shortness of breath after visiting his hometown near the locality where there are patients already infected with nCoV. However, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City determined that all the three patients’ samples were negative for nCoV.

* A sample test for a female suspected nCoV patient in Dam Doi District, Ca Mau Province was also negative for nCoV, Ca Mau General Hospital announced on Thursday afternoon. The health of the 30 year old patient, who is under monitor and quarantine at Ca Mau General Hospital, is in stable. She was hospitalised on February 4 with symptoms of coughing up blood, a sore throat and shortness of breath after visiting her Chinese husband in Shanghai then returned to Vietnam on January 25.

In addition to the above case, Ca Mau General Hospital also sent a sample of a 35-year-old male driver for testing, but according to the evaluation from the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, the male driver does not have the corona virus and the patient is expected to be discharged from the hospital later this afternoon.

To date, Ca Mau has not recorded any cases of nCoV infection yet but there are two cases who come from nCoV-affected areas who are under quarantined at home. The General Hospital of Tran Van Thoi District is also quarantining a woman who returned to Vietnam from Shanghai on January 26.

* Nguyen Nam Lien, Director of the Financial Planning Department (under the Ministry of Health), has said that according to the current laws, patients who are positive for nCoV will be free of all hospitalisation costs, medicines and testing costs. For suspected patients who need isolation and supervision, when their test results are negative, they will be supported for all costs in accordance with the provisions of their health insurance providers.

* On Thursday afternoon, the Military Command of Lang Son Province said that, following the direction of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Defence on strengthening measures to combat the nCoV epidemic, from February 3 to 16:00 this afternoon, the unit has arranged a venue to receive 410 Vietnamese citizens from China returning home. They will be isolated for monitor for 14 days according to the set regulations for nCoV prevention.

Examining body temperature and screening Vietnamese citizens returning from China in Lang Son Province. (Photo: NDO)

* As concerns over nCoV spread, all the 63 cities and provinces nationwide are letting their students stay at home as part of enhanced measures to prevent the virus from spreading. Fifty cities and provinces decided to extend their Lunar New Year holiday for students for another week, and four provinces of Khanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Dien Bien and Nghe An extended their school closure until further notice. Sixteen universities have asked their students to resume their study on February 16 to protect themselves from the novel virus.

Reports sent to the Ministry of Education and Training showed that communication work has been enhanced to raise awareness among teachers, managers, staff and students of the virus and prevention measures. Sterilisation has been conducted at schools of all the provinces. To date, 23 cities and provinces have completed the work while the remaining localities will have fulfilled their duties before February 9.

Teachers at schools, colleges and universities nationwide are applying a wide range of teaching methods to help their students learn online during the schools closure. Schools that resumed study on February 3 are continuing sterilisation, providing masks for students and staff as well as using thermometers and anti-bacterial gels or liquids.

Thang Long Primary School in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem District sprayed with disinfectant chemicals. (Photo: NDO/Dang Anh)

* On February 6, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province requested the local functional departments to strengthen the strict management of ships from the epidemic areas coming to Quang Ninh. Accordingly, the International Medical Quarantine is responsible for disinfecting working and living areas of crew members on board. Medical declaration and medical examination will be conducted for all crew members, while all crew members and passengers on board will be quarantined, without being allowed to enter the shore.

For vessels not passing through the epidemic areas, medical declarations must be carried out for all passengers and crew members. Disembarking is not allowed for passengers and crew members who have passed through Chinese epidemic areas for 14 days from the date of arrival in Vietnam (if any).

* On Thursday morning, the Management Board of Hai Phong Economic Zone announced that enterprises with Chinese workers must immediately suspend the reception of workers from China returning to Vietnam, even labourers moving through epidemic regions during the time of the epidemic declaration.

For enterprises that have received Chinese workers returning to Vietnam to work, they are required to make daily detailed statistics on the number of Chinese workers residing in any address or locality in the city, from the time of arriving to Vietnam until the announcement of the end of the epidemic. At the same time, it is required that enterprises strictly implement measures to prevent and control nCoV spread and follow the isolation plan for Chinese national labourers.

* Bac Kan Provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has directed all local authorities to urgently gather statistics and review local workers who have come to China and returned to Vietnam recently to take timely measures to prevent nCoV. Such labourers have been suggested to carry out self-isolation and restrict travel, especially to not travel to China during this time.

* Facing the complicated situation of the nCoV epidemic, the organising committee of Dong Cuong Temple Festival in Yen Bai Province has decided to stop organising all activities under the temple festival, as well as closing the Dong Cuong Temple relic area. Free masks and hand disinfectants are being offered to tourists coming to offer incense and visit the temple.

* On Thursday morning, Khanh Hoa Provincial Youth Union presented 20,000 free medical masks to local residents in Nha Trang City. The Provincial Youth Union has focused on coordinating with the local preventive medicine centres to guide local Youth Union members, as well as the local people on how to prevent and fight the virus.

Free masks given to local residents in tourist city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province. (Photo: NDO)

* Vinh Phuc Province has decided to suspend all cultural activities and festivals in the province to ensure maximum safety for people and tourists as the nCoV is showing signs of spreading. For the Tay Thien Festival, which is expected to be held on March 8, if the epidemic continues to have complicated movements with no sign of settling down and there are still many potential risks to lives, it will be stopped completely.

In the early days of the Lunar New Year 2020, a total of 29 Chinese tourists travelled to the province. Currently, four of the tourists have returned home, while the remaining 25 Chinese people are still staying in Vinh Phuc. These tourists are being closely monitored by the Vinh Phuc Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The nCoV was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. Up to now, the disease has spread to many cities in China and 27 countries and territories around the world.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health’s latest update, as of 16:00 this afternoon, 28,334 nCoV infected cases have been recorded worldwide, with 565 deaths, of which 563 of them have reported in mainland China. Vietnam has recorded 10 people infected with nCoV with three of them having been discharged from hospital. In addition, 379 cases, who are have good health without a cough and fever, are still being isolated after being in contact with people suspected of nCoV infection.