Vietnam’s anti-pandemic measures remain unchanged

Vietnam will continue to rectify places showing signs of loosening or neglecting medical supervision as Covid-19 situations.
January 08, 2021 | 14:07
pm orders to crack down on covid 19 prevention violators PM orders to crack down on COVID-19 prevention violators
nikkei vietnam among asian trio that keep covid near zero Nikkei: Vietnam among Asian trio that keep COVID near zero
unfpa hands over medical equipment and supplies to vietnams ministry of health UNFPA hands over medical equipment and supplies to Vietnam's Ministry of Health
Deputy prime minister vu duc dam (photo: vne)
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (Photo: VNE)

At the meeting on January 7, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control (Steering Committee) agreed not to change its current anti-pandemic tactics while scientists around the world are studying the new COVID-19 variants. Keeping the pandemic under control has become more urgent as Vietnamese people are preparing for the biggest festival Lunar New Year, and the 13th National Party Congress is scheduled to start from January 25 to February 2.

According to Assoc. Prof. Tran Dac Phu, the current infection sources in other countries mainly stem from poor control over immigrants, lax isolation rules and lockdown measures.

He further stressed that every ministry, branch and locality in Vietnam must continue to implement epidemic prevention measures in a serious and drastic manner.

Along with strict control and prevention of illegal entry, local authorities and the police must keep full record of those families with members living abroad, especially ones that could walk overland to Vietnam.

These families must encourage their overseas relatives not to return Vietnam illegally”, Phu was quoted by VNE as saying.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, "all regulations on prevention and fighting are put in place, but at times, in some places, they are not strictly implemented”. Therefore, he stressed, the Ministry of Health must review all the processes, from receiving immigrants, quarantining to discharging that finished isolation and further medical monitoring at home.

A medical worker sanitizing at the airport (photo: vne)
A medical worker sanitizing at the airport (Photo: VNE)

At the meeting, members of the Steering Committee and experts carefully analyzed the case of "Patient 1.498" who got an early discharge from Chuong My quarantine zone without second testing results.

Dang Quang Tan, Director of Preventive Medicine, said Chuong My Preventive Medicine Center was the first to blame for the early discharge. Quang Ninh’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) hasn’t fulfilled its responsibility either as it let the patient drive home himself, and no further surveillance measures are adopted.

The Steering Committee, therefore, tasked the Ministry of Health and localities to tighten the hand-over and reception of those finished quarantining period.

Inbound flights from countries and territories where the new variants of the coronavirus are causing complicated developments will be suspended, so as to ensure safety inside the country. The military, medical, transport, and diplomatic sectors should review the capacity of quarantine facilities, with a view to gradually responding to the wish to return home of Vietnamese citizens abroad.

Vietnam’s anti pandemic measures remain unchanged
(Photo: Bao Thai Nguyen)

To date, Vietnam has gone 37 consecutive days without any local transmission, tallied 1,509 cases and 35 deaths.

The number of recovered patients reached 1,353. Among patients under treatment, 14 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, six twice and seven thrice. A total of 19,392 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-affected regions are staying in quarantine nationwide.

Meanwhile, the world records a total of 88,503,304 cases, 1,906,747 patients have succumbed to the novel disease. The US, India and Brazil are the three hardest-hit nations worldwide.

who calls for more intensified measures after new variant of covid 19 detected in uk WHO calls for more intensified measures after new variant of COVID-19 detected in U.K

WHO suggests making the time between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine injection flexible as well as intensified coronavirus measures amidst the ...

vietnam covid 19 updates jan 8 prevention remain unchanged despite new variants Vietnam COVID-19 Updates (Jan 8): Prevention remain unchanged despite new variants

Vietnam will not change its current tactics in pandemic control amid the detection of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus, the standing board of the Steering ...

vietnam launches campaign on youtube to stimulate domestic tourism industry Vietnam launches campaign on YouTube to stimulate domestic tourism industry

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has launched a campaign named "Di De Yeu", "Discover Vietnam" in English, via YouTube to boost the need ...

Jasmine Le