Localities take serious quarantine measures against Covid-19

Localities nationwide are taking strict quarantine measures against suspected cases of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and those returning from disease-hit areas or who had contact with patients, in an effort to control the spreading of the outbreak.

Vinh Phuc province has added four more medical check posts in Son Loi Commune, Binh Xuyen District, to cope with the spread of Covid-19. (Photo: NDO/Duc Tung)
Vinh Phuc province has added four more medical check posts in Son Loi Commune, Binh Xuyen District, to cope with the spread of Covid-19. (Photo: NDO/Duc Tung)

>>> Education ministry to postpone the end of current school year

>>> Spreading humane values

>>> Nearly 300,000 free masks offered to prevent Covid-19 spread

>>> Vietnam confirms 16th Covid-19 infection case

To ensure medical safety and strictly control the Covid-19 situation in Son Loi Commune, Binh Xuyen District, the Vinh Phuc provincial authorities have established four more medical checkpoints in the commune, bringing the total number of medical check posts in the locale to 12, running quarantine work 24 hours a day in the area. In addition, the local medical staff will spray disinfectants in the villages of Ai Van and Ngoc Bao for 20 days, with a frequency of once every second day.

Vinh Phuc Province has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 infections in the country, with 11 cases of the 16 nationwide. Among them, five are from Binh Xuyen District’s Son Loi Commune, home to nearly 10,000 people with over 2,000 households.

During the quarantine period, the provincial departments and functional agencies have coordinated with Binh Xuyen District to grasp the daily needs of food of the local people to prepare a timely supply plan. Binh Xuyen District has contracted with major supermarkets such as Big C and Co-op Mart to organise six selling venues to supply necessities to people in the commune.

* On Friday (February 14) afternoon, representatives from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) presented medical supplies and VND500 million in cash to Vinh Phuc Province to assist the province in the fight against Covid-19.

Representatives from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour present medical supplies and VND500 million in cash to Vinh Phuc Province to assist in the fight against Covid-19. (Photo: NDO/P.Q)

Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of VGCL, said that this is a noble gesture of the trade union organisations, demonstrating the responsibility, sharing and also the timely encouragement of the VGCL to the trade union members and workers in Vinh Phuc, in the context of a complicated Covid-19 situation.

He suggested that the leaders of the provincial Labour Confederation continue to promote communications to local officials, union members and workers about disease prevention and fighting, while organising visits and providing support to labourers who are in medical isolation or undergoing treatment.

On the same day, the VGCL mission visited and gave face masks and antiseptic alcohol to officials and employees at Vinh Yen Station.

* The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee has announced that with the complicated situation of the Covid-19 epidemic in China, VFF President Tran Thanh Man has sent a letter to Wang Yang, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). On behalf of the VFF Central Committee, Man expressed his sympathy and sharing with the difficulties that the CPPCC and Chinese people are facing, while sending his encouragement and condolences to those who are affected by the epidemic and relatives of those who have died due to the disease.

Man stated that the VFF and Vietnamese people are ready to join the Chinese Government and people in promoting cooperation and making every effort to successfully prevent the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic.

* On February 14, the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Tam Duong District, Lai Chau Province, said that the locality is implementing home medical isolation for 13 cases that had contact with people from the outbreak region in Son Loi Commune, Binh Xuyen District, Vinh Phuc Province. Meanwhile, in the isolated area of Ma Lu Thang Border Gate, the local functional forces are isolating 38 cases of Vietnamese citizens returning from China, of which seven are with cough and fever and have been transferred to Phong Tho District Medical Centre for treatment and testing.

* On the same day, Tuan Chau Group said that its chairman has bought three million antibacterial cloth masks to present to Quang Ninh Province’s people for free. The masks are expected to be handed over to the provincial Department of Health next week for free distribution. In addition, the chairman of Tuan Chau Group has called on local businesspersons and enterprises to support and accompany Quang Ninh to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic.

Dong Nai functional forces provide local people with free masks and information on preventive measures against Covid-19. (Photo: NDO/Thien Vuong)

* On February 14, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam said that, up until now, 21 airports have detected 127 passengers showing signs of Covid-19 infection requiring medical isolation. They refused entrance for nearly 300 passengers coming from epidemic areas.

* Also on Friday, the Vietnam Maritime Administration said that the Quang Binh Provincial Maritime Port Authority has coordinated with the concerned agencies to isolate 10 crew members aboard the Pacific Horse ship (Panama nationality) arriving at Hon La Port. Around 18:00 on February 13, Pacific Horse from Hong Kong (China) docked at Hon La, with 18 Vietnamese crew members aboard. As planned, the ship changed 10 crew members. After medical quarantine, 10 crew members left the ship are being isolated and under medical monitor for 14 days. At the same time, the local port authorities do not allow the remaining crew members leave ship.

* On February 14, the Ministry of Health officially launched a virtual assistant (chatbot) on Covid-19. The virtual assistant was developed by the Information Technology Department (Ministry of Health) in collaboration with FPT Corporation based on artificial intelligence platform, capable of automatic and continuous answering in real time, allows multiple users to ask about Covid-19 at the same time.

On this occasion, the department also developed a website specialising in information about Covid-19, at https://ncov.ehealth.gov.vn, providing accurate information on the disease situation, how to prevent the virus and guiding diagnosis and treatment.

* On Friday evening, the Minister of Education and Training sent a dispatch to the provinces and cities for consideration of continuing to let students leave school until the end of February. Based on the actual situation of school absences in localities across the country, the Ministry of Education and Training decides to adjust the end of the school year 2019-2020 which may end later amid the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic. At the same time, the ministry will provide detailed guidance for localities to develop a plan to adjust teaching activities to ensure that it does not affect the quality of the current education and training programmes.

Conducting disinfectant spraying at Thang Long Primary School in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. (Photo: NDO/Dang Anh)

The same day, Hanoi authorities decided to allow local students to continue to take one more week of absence from school, until February 23. The Hanoi Department of Education and Training requires units and schools during the break to continue to carry out environmental sanitation and prepare the best conditions for welcoming students back to school in the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, on February 14, Ho Chi Minh City allowed local students to leave school until the end of February to avoid the Covid-19 epidemic. In addition, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee also suggested the Government and the Ministry of Education and Training to allow local students in the city to leave school until the end of March, while starting the second semester from April and spanning until July this year.