Ministry of Health urges enhanced coordination for early detection of COVID-19 cases

The Ministry of Health (MOH) on July 25 sent a dispatch to directors of hospitals under the MOH and the medical and pharmaceutical universities, the Health Departments of provinces and centrally run cities, and medical units of ministries and sectors, asking for enhanced coordination for the early detection of COVID-19 cases.

The dispatch stated that in recent days, the COVID-19 pandemic has been evolving in a complicated manner with the emergence of a new infection case in the community.

In an effort to strengthen the early detection of cases to promptly localise, quarantine and treat them, the MOH requests the aforementioned units ask local drug retailers to write down patients’ full names, addresses and phone numbers when offering advice to sell drugs to those who show signs of flu, cough or fever.

Drug retailers should recommend the patients install the health declaration app and notify local preventive medical agencies to monitor and manage these cases.

The directors of the Health Departments of provinces and centrally run cities are told to direct the provincial-level centres for disease control (CDC) and preventive medical centres to inform drug retailers of round-the-clock hotlines receiving information regarding the above mentioned cases, as well as operating health declaration apps to receive information concerning suspect cases to take appropriate quarantine measures.

Hospitals from the district level upwards are requested to strengthen screening measures and appoint SARS-CoV-2 testing for patients with cold, flu, cough and fever symptoms in order to promptly detect COVID-19 cases and organise timely quarantine and localisation to minimise infection.

Private clinics must increase the screening of patients with signs of flu, cough and fever and arrange examinations for them in separate areas, while having notebooks to keep their names, addresses and phone numbers to monitor and manage these cases.

In order to implement urgent measures to minimise the spread of the disease to neighbouring provinces and nationwide, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long on July 25 decided to establish three special working teams to support COVID-19 prevention and control in Da Nang.

The teams consist of leading experts who are experienced in COVID-19 epidemiological investigation, quarantine, treatment, and testing. They are tasked with providing technical guidance and assistance in monitoring, treatment, testing and COVID-19 disease prevention and control activities in Da Nang, as well as reporting to MOH leaders and relevant departments on the situation of the pandemic and the activities implemented.

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control stated on July 26 morning that another case of COVID-19 has been recorded in the central city of Da Nang, raising the total of coronavirus infections in the country to 418.

The 61-year-old man, who resides in Thanh Binh ward of Hai Chau District, was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on the night July 25. He is now under intensive treatment at Da Nang Hospital, with the aid of a ventilator.