According to the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s report, there are four starting points of the epidemic. The first point is from Da Nang city (with a case in an isolation area returning to Ha Nam province and a bar and beauty salon in Da Nang). The second point is from Yen Bai province (with cases related to Indian experts, spreading to Chinese experts, to Vinh Phuc province and some localities). The third point is from Hai Duong province (from a person with an epidemiological history in Laos, spreading to other people). The fourth point is from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No.2, spreading to many localities and hospitals.
Currently, epidemic prevention and control forces have basically controlled, localised and taken samples of related cases for testing. Epidemiologists predict that in the near future, in addition to these four sources of infection, there may be other starting points in the community that have not been detected, so localities, especially those that have not yet recorded any COVID-19 cases must be very vigilant.
At a recent working session of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long assessed that Vietnam is in a state of high alarm due to the risk and rapid infection of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Notably, the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain detected in the UK spreads 1.7 times faster, but the strain detected in India is even faster and is very capable of spreading in the air.
Responding to that situation, the MoH considers testingone of the key tasks which must be urgently implemented. As of May 7, the country had 125 units approved by the MoH to perform COVID-19 confirmation tests; testing capacity increased 1.7 times compared to the peak period of the third wave in July 2020. The MoH also requireshospitals with 300 beds or more to have Realtime-PCR laboratory confirmation.
Currently, the epidemic situation in Vietnam is very complicated, the number of cases per day is still high (on May 10, 126 cases were recorded in the community), and many localities have recorded cases related to the Indian variant of coronavirus. The MoH suggests that key and high-risk areas need to strongly uphold the spirit of “fighting the pandemic is like fighting an enemy”, focusing on effectively implementing the directives of the Politburo, the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, Government and Prime Minister on epidemic prevention and control.
In particular, grasping the guiding spirit of the Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and the Prime Minister that the provincial leader is responsible to the Politburo, the Secretariat and the Prime Minister for epidemic prevention and control in the area; resolutely preventing the epidemic from entering and spreading on a large scale. In high-risk localities, key regions, provinces and cities with many industrial parks, and entertainment places, the alert level of COVID-19 epidemic has been raised to its highest rating. Localities must also strictly control entry activities, prevent illegal entry, tighten management and ensure epidemic prevention and control in crowded places, industrial parks, entertainment and resorts; closely coordinatingwith neighbouring provinces in terms of border and entry management.
Localities with common borders with Cambodia, Laos and China continue to strictly manage people entering the country, prevent and strictly handle cases of illegal entry without or with dishonest medical declaration and failure to comply with isolation upon entry. Localities have mobilised the whole political system, especially at grassroots level, to promote the role of community epidemic prevention groups, going down every alley, from house to house, scanning each object in order to detect and promptly handle illegal entry cases. A movement has also been launched to mobilise people to prevent and combat the epidemic, making every citizen a soldier on the front line of epidemic prevention and control.
In addition, it is necessary to focus on directing and strengthening inspection of the implementation of 5K, especially the wearing of masks (well implemented, the 5K can cut off the chain of infection and epidemiology in the community); pay special attention to inspecting the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures by agencies, units and organisations in the area, especially at hospitals, schools, factories, bus stations, border gates, and tourist resorts, religious establishments, etc.; strictly handle any violating organisations and individuals and make these public on the mass media to contribute to prevention and deterrence. Any establishment that fails to ensure safety shall be handled according to the law.
Information and communication must be disseminated to people from all walks of life, especially people at the borders and vaccinations against the epidemic must be increased. People must voluntarily take measures to prevent and control the epidemic, proactively detect and notify the authorities about cases of illegal entry; and promote the role of religious dignitaries and reputable people in mass mobilisation. Plans and scenarios must be reviewed to prepare for and deal with all possible situations.
Although epidemic prevention and control work has been urgently and actively implemented by authorities at all levels, there are still cases of illegal entry or cases of entries not strictly isolated, leading to a risk of spread in the community. Besides, many localities and some people are still negligent after a long time of no cases in the community.
Therefore, all localities need to thoroughly implement epidemic prevention measures; strictly implement concentrated quarantine and home quarantine; monitor and test all subjects with risk factors in order to detect infections early. Traceability from infections should be enhanced; people need to carefully prepare for all scenarios; localities need to improve the treatment capability, as well as fully prepare the relevant medicine and equipment to deal with the spread of the epidemic on a large scale.
