At a field hospital at the Hai Duong Medical Technical University where 34 COVID-19 patients are receiving treatment, the Deputy PM showed his satisfaction at the modern medical equipment and facilities provided by the Bach Mai Hospital.
In a meeting with the provincial Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Dam, who is also head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, praised doctors, technicians, police and military forces, local officials and other forces for their great efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the locality.
He urged the Hai Duong CDC to strive to complete the testing within the next six days.
The Deputy PM also acknowledged the support from the Ministry of Health and central-level hospitals, and thanked businesses producing biological products and medical equipment and other localities across the country for helping Hai Duong strengthen its capacity in disease prevention and control.
He affirmed that the epicentre of the outbreak in Hai Duong – Cong Hoa Industrial Park – has been well contained, and reminded the local authorities to continue with the efforts so as to realise the goal of controlling the outbreak within 10 days.
Taking samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing in Chi Linh City (Hai Duong). (Photo: NDO)
So far, Hai Duong had recorded 178 COVID-19 cases, with Chi Linh City and Kinh Mon District reporting the most infections. A total of 45 areas have put under lockdown.
Hai Duong’s testing capacity and speed have been improved to serve contact tracing and testing. Nearly 12,600 samples were collected on January 30-31.
On the evening of January 31, Deputy PM Dam continued to inspect the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh.
Against the spread of the new coronavirus wave, localities across the nation have strengthened their disease response systems. Hanoi’s authorities decided to close all karaoke parlours, bars and discotheques in the capital city from 0:00 on February 1.
All eateries are required to disinfect their space regularly, arrange seats to ensure social distancing and ask all staff to wear masks.
Residents must limit gathering in crowds when it is not necessary. Those organising events must strictly ensure preventive measures.
The city authorities have emphasised that people should limit organising festive activities amid the latest outbreak that has aroused concerns that it is a rapidly spreading variant of the novel coronavirus.
The capital city has recorded 17 infection cases to date, all are related to the two new outbreaks detected in Chi Linh City of Hai Duong Province and Van Don District of Quang Ninh Province.
The national tally so far hit 1,819 cases, including 933 domestically infected while the remainder imported. The number of cases linked to the fresh outbreaks since January 27 totalled 240.
In other developments, Quang Ninh is accelerating the collection of samples for COVID-19 testing of workers at Vang Danh Coal Company, after one worker of this company has tested positive for the virus on January 31.
The northern province has reported a total of 25 community-transmitted cases over the past five days.
A quarantine post in Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province. (Photo: NDO)
Meanwhile, scientists from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology have detected a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus in a COVID-19 patient entering Vietnam from South Africa, who has been quarantined right upon arrival and receiving treatment at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases
According to experts, the new variant, recorded in South Africa, has a higher speed of spreading than those discovered from the first outbreak of the pandemic.
So far, Vietnam has seen two SARS-CoV-2 variants originating from the UK and South Africa.
Experts advise people to continue strictly applying preventive measures against the virus, including wearing masks and making health declarations.
Hanoi has decided to keep students at home against the complex developments of the new outbreak, meaning that the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday will begin a week earlier for over 2 million Hanoi students.
Students in other localities such as Hoa Binh, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Gia Lai and Thai Binh had already decided to not allow their students to attend school.
The Ministry of Education and Training asked all schools to prepare for remote learning and take measures to keep students safe from the coronavirus.
