Vietnam controls Covid-19 spread well: Deputy PM

Vietnam is implementing measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus well (Covid-19), with the most important work focused on supervision and quarantine, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (standing) speaks at a meeting of the National Steering Committee on the prevention and control of acute respiratory disease caused by Covid-19, Hanoi, February 12, 2020. (Photo: VGP)
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (standing) speaks at a meeting of the National Steering Committee on the prevention and control of acute respiratory disease caused by Covid-19, Hanoi, February 12, 2020. (Photo: VGP)

The senior government official was speaking during chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committee on the prevention and control of acute respiratory disease caused by Covid-19 in Hanoi on February 12.

Dam, who is also the head of the national steering committee, discussed with delegates at the meeting on Covid-19 epidemic prevention measures.

He stressed that despite complicated the Covid-19 situation, up until now, Vietnam hasn’t recorded many number of infections with only 15, while treatment for those infected with the deadly virus has been positive, with six of the previously infected patients having already recovered and been discharged from hospital.

To prevent Covid-19 from spreading in Vietnam, Dam urged localities to stamp out any outbreak and to prevent disease transmission in communities or in hospitals.

He also asked competent authorities to step up theỉr communication work to raise the awareness of quarantined people about their responsibility towards their families and society.

He instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate with and provide support in human resources and medical equipment for the northern province of Vinh Phuc, which have the most Covid-19 cases so far (ten as of February 11), to localise and stamp out the outbreak.

Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong said the fast transmission of the Covid-19 means prevention of transmission is of the highest priority at present.

The Ministry of Health affirmed that district-level clinics have received training and necessary medical equipment to ensure they can diagnose and treat Covid-19 infections. Therefore, the ministry advised people with suspected signs of Covid-19 infection to seek diagnosis and treatment immediately at district-level clinics instead of flocking to central-level hospitals to reduce the risk of the virus spreading throughout the community.

According to the ministry, as of 1 pm on February 12, a total of 45,170 cases of Covid-19 infection have been recorded in 28 countries and territories worldwide, of which 44,653 were in China. The death toll has reached 1,115, with 1,113 in mainland China, one in the Philippines and another in Hong Kong (China).

* On February 12, the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control announced that as of 8 am of the same day, there was one case of suspected Covid-19 infection waiting for their test results, while 29 previously suspected cases have been confirmed negative for the virus.

An isolated area in a medical facility serving Covid-19 treatment and isolation. (Photo: NDO/Manh Hao)

The city currently monitors 2,588 immigrants, of which 2,521 are isolated at home. The number of people having contact with suspected and/or infected cases are at 44, of which 15 cases have ended their monitoring period, while 18 cases are currently under isolation and 11 are isolated at their homes.

Up to now, Ho Chi Minh City has identified three cases of Covid-19 infection, of which one has been cured and released from hospital. The remaining two are receiving isolated treatment at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Cho Ray Hospital in the city.

* To join hands with the community to prevent Covid-19 spread, Nhan Dan Newspaper representative office in Can Tho city has called on donors to sponsor 1,000 litres of 70% medical alcohol and distribute rubbing alcohol free of charge to local residents in Thot Not district of Can Tho city. The distribution work will last until February 13.

A representative from Nhan Dan newspaper (R) presents free medical alcohol to local residents in Can Tho city on February 12, 2020. (Photo: NDO)

* In order to facilitate the prevention and control of Covid-19, universities in Da Nang city have actively made up antibacterial hand sanitisers and have distributed them free of charge to their students.

Currently, students in Da Nang and many other localities across the nation are allowed to leave school amidst the fear of Covid-19 spreading. Da Nang’s universities have carried out disinfectant solutions in their campus, while propagating on epidemic prevention for their students and staff when they return to school.