Two Vinh Phuc Covid-19 patients show negative test results

The good news was announced by Nguyen Thanh Hai, Director of Vinh Phuc Provincial Department of Health, on February 17, saying that the two Vinh Phuc residents are being treated and supervised at Quang Ha General Clinic in Binh Xuyen district.

The first is P.T.B, 42, in Son Loi commune, Binh Xuyen district, who is a family member of N.T.D, a 23-year-old female worker infected with the virus after returning from a training course in China’s Wuhan city – the epicentre of the global coronavirus outbreak. However, N.T.D recovered and was discharged from the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases - Based 2 in Hanoi on February 10.

The second case is N.T.N, 29, in Thien Ke commune, Binh Xuyen district, a female worker among a group of eight from the same company returning from Wuhan on January 17.

According to the regulations from the Ministry of Health (MoH), for infected cases having negative tests for the second consecutive time in close proximity to each other, if they show no symptoms of a fever for two days, they could be discharged. However, Hai said that the two will continue to stay at Quang Ha General Clinic for follow-up care and quarantining according to regulations.

Currently, Quang Ha General Clinic is treating five cases of coronavirus infection among 11 infected cases in Vinh Phuc (among 16 cases recorded across the nation). In addition to two people that have tested negative for the second time, there are two cases who’s medical samples that tested negative in the first time, with their health in stable condition.

* On the same day, the Hanoi-based National Hospital of Paediatrics informed that the health of a three-month-old baby contracting the acute respiratory disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (Covid-19) is improving, as the baby doesn’t have fever or a runny nose, with just a little coughing.

Nguyen Van Lam, Director of the centre for clinical medicine of children’s tropical diseases at the Hanoi-based hospital, said right after the baby was transferred from a clinic in the nearby province of Vinh Phuc, his centre has actively monitored, quarantined and cared for her. Her mother has also been kept in quarantine according to the MoH’s guidance.

As this is the first small child to contract Covid-19, her health condition has been reported regularly to the sub-committee on treatment, he said, expecting that the baby will be discharged from hospital soon after tests show she is negative for the virus.

Three consecutive days without any new infection case, Vietnam controls Covid-19 well

At a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control held in Hanoi on February 17, experts agreed that Vietnam has well controlled the Covid-19 spread in the country, thanks to the synchronous and drastic participation of the relevant authorities and localities, along with the companion with the highest sense of responsibility from the people in cooperating with the concerned authorities in implementing disease prevention solutions.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam (C) chairs a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control on February 17, 2020. (Photo: VGP)

Affirming that Vietnam is a safe country and has avoided the spread of Covid-19 up until now, they said that in Son Loi commune (Binh Xuyen, Vinh Phuc), the locality with the highest number of infected cases (five among 11 in Vinh Phuc), the situation is under good control. From the time of the latest infected case detected on February 13, Vietnam has not recorded any new cases. Among 16 confirmed cases across the nation, seven of them have been cured and discharged from hospital, while the remaining nine patients’ treatment has shown positive signs.

For three patients undergoing treatment in Ho Chi Minh City, two Chinese patients recovered and were discharged. The other patient, a Vietnamese-American, 73, tested negative for the virus twice, however he is still being kept for further monitoring and treatment because of other background diseases.

For 11 Covid-19 patients in Vinh Phuc, five have been treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases and the three-month-old baby undergoing treatment at the National Hospital of Paediatrics, while the rest are isolated and treated in Vinh Phuc. Of the five cases treated at the Hanoi-based National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, three were cured and discharged. The remaining two cases have been also tested negative twice and are undergoing further monitor. The case of the three-month-old baby at the National Hospital of Paediatrics has been mentioned above and the mother was confirmed not contagious.

According to medical experts, although there is no specific medicine or vaccine for Covid-19 yet, Vietnam has enough capacity and experience and is confident in curing the disease by other treatments. If there is a new case, Vietnam is capable of zoning and treating it fast and adequately , they affirmed.

However, experts and members of the Steering Committee agreed that although the domestic disease situation is under good control, it is recommended that localities should continue to implement well the directions from the Secretariat and the Prime Minister on disease prevention and control, while continuing to strictly check passengers at border gates and take effective measures when suspected cases are discovered.

At the meeting, the Steering Committee also proposed that localities should strictly follow the instructions of the Government and the Prime Minister on banning those coming from or going through areas hit by the Covid-19 outbreak within 14 days from entry into Vietnam or if entering Vietnam, they must be isolated for two weeks in line with regulations.

* On the morning of February 17, the Regiment 123 under the Military Command of Lang Son Province granted certifications for 120 citizens who are eligible to leave the local quarantine area following 14 days of isolation according to the MoH’s regulations to prevent Covid-19 infection.

More residents released from the quarantine area at the Regiment 123, Military Command of Lang Son Province on February 17, 2020, following 14 days of medical isolation. (Photo: NDO/Hung Trang)

Previously, they were isolated by the provincial authorities after returning from China through Huu Nghi, Dong Dang and Cao Loc international border gates on February 3.

Major Nguyen Cong Hanh, Head of Military Medical Department under the Regiment 123 said that during the medical isolation and monitoring, these people did not show any abnormal signs of health so they would be released as prescribed.

In order to ensure that they return to their hometowns in the best health condition possible, the Lang Son Centre for Disease Control in coordination with the Regiment 123 and the Lang Son Provincial General Hospital organised a general health examination for them. They then were sent on four free coaches to the Lang Son Northern Bus Station to return to their hometowns.

* In Bac Kan the same day, the province received 148 more Vietnamese citizens returning from China to admit into two quarantine areas for monitoring against Covid-19 infection. Previously, on February 15, Bac Kan received 173 Vietnamese citizens returned from the neighbouring country for isolation. After 14 days, if the citizens have no suspected signs of Covid-19 infection, they will be certified and returned to their homes.

Medical examinations for Vietnamese citizens returning from China at the Bac Kan Province Military School on February 17, 2020. (Photo: NDO/Tuan Son)

The Bac Kan health sector triggered home isolation for five local residents who have been in contact with workers coming from Son Loi commune, Binh Xuyen district, Vinh Phuc province. Currently, these five people have no signs of suspected infection and their health is normal.

From February 17, Bac Kan sent missions to check the prevention and control of Covid-19 in all localities to ensure the highest efficiency in the work.