Deputy PM urges quick control of COVID-19 outbreaks in industrial zones

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has requested the rapid control of COVID-19 outbreaks in industrial zones in the two northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VGP)
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VGP)

>>> Defence minister: Army to support localities in fight against COVID-19

>>> Vietnam sees 37 new domestic COVID-19 infections in 12 hours

On the afternoon of May 16, Deputy PM Dam, also Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, chaired a teleconference between the committee and authorities from the two provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, which have recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the current new infection wave.

Speaking at the meeting, Dam stated that the rapid spread of the disease in Bac Giang is due to crowded industrial zones, workers gathering in a closed environment and the resultant spread of new coronavirus strains. Therefore, the province needs to focus on epidemic prevention and control, with the highest priority paid to controlling outbreaks in industrial zones.

The deputy PM assigned the Ministry of Health, Military Medicine and Public Security Ministry to train and prepare backup forces along with mobile testing vehicles to provide timely aid in case of urgent need in order to take samples in a short time.

He urged the two provinces to not let the epidemic spread in isolation camps, while studying the deployment of medical isolation in workers' dormitories and living quarters.

Dam also assigned the Ministry of Information and Communications to launch a hotline to receive and support people with difficulties making medical declarations. On the other hand, data interoperability sets are required to facilitate people in the process of making medical declarations.

At the meeting, experts suggested that during the realisation of the "dual goals" of epidemic prevention and control while boosting socio-economic development, localities need to strictly implement regulations on epidemic prevention and control so as not to let COVID-19 penetrate further into society. When there is a pathogen in the community, it is necessary to quickly trace and localise infected cases as quickly and neatly as possible.

Recently, Bac Ninh and Bac Giang have done the right thing, only applying strict social distancing in high-risk areas. Therefore, the right strategy is to detect the risk, implement the blockade as narrowly as possible, while at the same time strictly controlling the outbreak so as to prevent the virus spreading in the isolation areas.

* On the evening of the same day, a delegation from the Ministry of Health led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Son had a working session with Bac Ninh province on the implementation of urgent measures to prevent and control the epidemic.

At a meeting between the Ministry of Health and Bac Ninh authorities on the prevention and control of COVID-19 in the province. (Photo: NDO/Thai Son)

At the meeting, members of the delegation discussed and assessed the situation and risk in Bac Ninh, while proposing solutions to cope with the current situation, especially the potential risk of disease spread in the community and industrial zones.

* On the same day, the Ministry of Health sent a cable to request local authorities and health services direct their affiliated agencies and the heads of relevant units to strengthen epidemic prevention and control work before and during the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure, that will take place on May 23.

* Also on May 16, in Cao Bang province, local authorities and the Cao Bang Border Guard launched a movement calling on "All people to participate in anti-COVID-19 and anti-illegal entry and exit activities” in the border areas. On the occasion, the Border Guard force presented medical supplies to Thong Nhat commune in Ha Lang district and honoured collectives and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to the prevention and control of the epidemic and illegal entry and exit.

* Yesterday afternoon, Hanoi authorities hosted a send-off ceremony for 20 local medical staff to support the neighbouring province of Bac Giang in the prevention and control of COVID-19.

Hanoi's medical team set off for Bac Giang to support the fight against COVID-19 in the neighbouring province. (Photo: NDO/Duy Linh)

The delegation from the Hanoi Department of Health set out for Van Trung Industrial Park to support Bac Giang in its fight against the epidemic in the industrial park with around 100,000 workers, of which over 150 cases have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

* The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control on the same day announced that by the end of the afternoon of May 16, Hanoi had taken samples from a total of 10,190 people returning from Da Nang. The test results were all negative.

* On May 16, the chairperson of the Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee issued the decision to establish medical isolation areas and apply a strict social distancing order in the districts of Lang Giang, Luc Nam and Viet Yen to boost the prevention and control of COVID-19.

* On the afternoon of May 16, Hai Duong University of Medical Technology re-activated a field hospital at the request of the Ministry of Health and received about 300 patients and their family members from the Hanoi-based National Cancel Hospital (known as K Hospital) to better ensure the protection and treatment of vulnerable patients in the context of the complicated development of the epidemic.

On the same day, nearly 270 students from the Hai Duong University of Medical Technology set out for the neighbouring provinces of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh to support the collection of samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing.

* On May 16, various local units and businesses in Dien Bien province joined hands to donate hundreds of millions of VND and medical supplies to support Nam Po district to prevent and control the new COVID-19 outbreaks amid a shortage of human resources, materials and necessities.

* Facing the unpredictable development of the COVID-19 epidemic, Ninh Binh province has decided to temporarily stop the operation of local golf courses, starting from 0:00 on May 16 until further notification. Previously, the province had requested the suspension of a series of crowded activities and entertainment and sports services, such as swimming pools, yoga studios, karaoke parlours, bars and discos.

* On May 16, the 16th Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Council held its 23rd meeting to approve policies on local COVID-19 prevention and control. At the meeting, the council approved a resolution stipulating policies to support funding for COVID-19 vaccination in Vinh Phuc during 2021-2022, which will cover 100% of the cost of vaccination against COVID-19 for people aged 18 years or older with permanent or temporary residence for more than six months in Vinh Phuc from the time the resolution takes effect (from May 16, 2021).

* On the evening of May 16, Da Nang city issued an urgent document on the suspension of taxis and e-hailing transport services, including GrabCar and GrabBike, from May 17 until further notice.

Da Nang conducts large-scale COVID-19 screening and testing for local people. (Photo: NDO/Anh Dao)

From May 15, Da Nang began to carry out large-scale random sampling of local households to assess the COVID-19 risk in the city, aimed at quickly screening, tracing and isolating if an infection is detected in the community.

* On the same day, the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang held a drill on medical isolation and quarantine to prevent and control COVID-19 outbreaks in Vi Thanh city. The exercise also aimed to promote the synergy of the whole political system in disease prevention and control, as well as close coordination among local agencies, mass organisations and authorities to closely control the spread of the disease and synchronously deploy effective epidemic prevention and control solutions.