Facing the complicated situation of nCoV being at risk of spreading rapidly, Mong Cai City in Quang Ninh Province held talks with authorities from Dongxing City, Guangxi, China on January 30 to exchanged measures and coordinate as they try to prevent the acute pneumonia caused nCoV.
Both sides agreed to temporarily suspend the operation of tourist delegations until the situation is stable, while strengthening communications for residents on both sides of the border to limit or suspend activities through border gates. Health authorities of the two localities set up a mechanism on epidemic notification and strengthen cooperation on disease prevention and control.
Regarding customs clearance of goods, the two sides agreed to jointly implement quarantine measures to prevent epidemics. At the meeting, Mong Cai City presented the Chinese city with 20,000 medical masks.
* In order to promptly cope with the spread of nCoV, Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command has established working groups to coordinate with other local authorities to boost epidemic prevention and control measures in border areas, especially at border gates and seaports.
The Nghe An Border Guard Command also directed the military medical units and civilian medical stations to be fully prepared and stocked up with medical equipment and supplies, while closely monitoring the situation for the disease for effective preventive measures.
* Currently, Ha Giang province has not recorded any nCoV infection cases yet. However, the People's Committee of Ha Giang Province soon issued documents directing the implementation of preventive measures. Districts and cities in the province have also put a halt to their spring festivals.
Measuring body temperature of travellers who enter Vietnam at Thanh Thuy International Border Gate in Ha Giang Province. (Photo: NDO)
* Phu Tho Province has isolated a local female who returned home from Wuhan, despite showing no signs of nCoV infection. To proactively prevent and control the virus, the chairperson of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee has issued a directive to request the local health departments and relevant agencies, units and localities to strengthen communications and prepare medical facilities to actively monitor the epidemic.
* On January 31, Bac Kan Provincial Party Committee requested all local specialised agencies to promptly review and thoroughly examine all cases of labourers returning from China to proactively prevent nCoV from spreading in Vietnam. From today, Bac Kan authorities started to inspect the preparation of local medical facilities to cope with the epidemic.
* Facing the complicated developments of nCoV, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province authorities required all local governments to review their entire plan for dealing with the virus.
In Ba Ria Hospital, in addition to maintaining regular medical examinations and treatment for people, communications to raise people's awareness about nCoV have also been strengthened. Border quarantine work at ports has also been tightened.
* Up to January 31, Lao Cai Province is providing isolation treatment to 10 people suspected of being infected with nCoV in Lao Cai General Hospital. Lao Cai Centre for Disease Control and Prevention took samples of all suspected patients and sent them to the National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, of which only one received a negative result to nCoV, while the remaining nine cases are still waiting to find out.
A suspected patient infected with nCoV during isolated treatment at Lao Cai Provincial General Hospital. (Photo: NDO)
In response to the nCoV prevention, the Lao Cai People's Committee requested the Lao Cai Provincial Department of Health to purchase two additional thermometers to use at the Kim Thanh clearance site of Lao Cai International Border Gate.
* The People's Committee of Nam Dinh Province has held a meeting to discuss the measures to prepare and prevent against the nCoV from reaching the province. As of January 31, Nam Dinh has not detected any nCoV positive case yet, however the chairperson of Nam Dinh People's Committee requested local agencies and units to closely follow the movement and health of foreign workers working in the province. The health sector of Nam Dinh has developed a detailed plan to prevent and combat acute respiratory infections caused by nCoV in any circumstances.
* On January 31, Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee said that, the province has decided to establish a field hospital at the Binh Son Medical Centre in Dung Quat Economic Zone, in order to isolate and treat suspected cases of nCoV infection for Dung Quat Economic Zone and the northern part of Quang Ngai Province.
* On January 31, the Ministry of Education and Training issued a dispatch to the departments of education and training, universities, institutes, colleges and schools, urging them to provide guidance on the prevention and control of nCoV in schools. Based on the actual situation of the epidemic, they could allow students to be off from schools. Many schools in Hanoi have actively taken measures to strengthen the protection for their students and prevent the spread of nCoV, including requiring all students and teachers to wear masks in schools and public places.
Disinfection using Chloramine B at Nguyen Du Secondary School in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. (Photo: NDO)
* On January 31, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a document requiring localities in necessary cases to temporarily stop organising spring festivals to prevent the spread of nCoV.
Earlier, in a meeting on January 30, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Writers’ Association decided to postpone the organisation of the 2020 Vietnam Poetry Day amidst the spread of the virus.
On January 31, People's Committees of many districts in Tuyen Quang Province announced the suspension of festivals to focus on prevention and control of nCoV.
* Budget carrier Vietjet Air becomes the first airlines in Vietnam to suspend all flights from and to China from February 1. The airline said it is closely working with relevant agencies to limit the spread of the virus.
On January 30 and 31, many airlines from different countries decided to suspend all flights from and to the world’s most populous country amidst the World Health Organisation has declaring the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency because it could spread to countries that aren’t prepared.
To proactively prevent nCoV, the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has taken measures and actively coordinated with functional agencies to implement a number of measures to prevent and fight epidemics and protect public health. Up until now, VNA has not recorded any cases of passengers on flights showing abnormal behaviours related to nCoV. At all airports, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has directed interdisciplinary coordination when dealing with arising situations.
