Vietnam successfully treats 14 Covid-19 infection cases

Under the chair of its head, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, the national steering committee held a meeting in Hanoi on February 19 to update information about the Covid-19 epidemic in Vietnam.

During the meeting, the committee held that, so far, Vietnam has been controlling the situation well. Since the detection of the latest case on February 13, the country has discovered no new ones.

Vietnam has successfully treated 14 infection cases. At present, a 73-year-old Vietnamese-American patient being treated at the Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City has shown negative test results for Covid-19 five times and is expected to be discharged on February 21. The remaining case is a three-month-old baby with Covid-19 being treated at the National Hospital of Paediatrics (Hanoi). The baby’s health is stable and also showed a negative test result for the virus, signalling that the patient is expected to be discharged soon.

Notably, medical establishments in the district, provincial and central levels in the country are all able to successfully treat infection cases.

Holding that the epidemic may develop in a complicated manner in foreign countries, the committee stressed the need to persist and well implement the medical review and quarantine measures. In addition, it also asked scientists to soon work out a course to cure the disease.

Further efforts should be exerted in the fight against the novel coronavirus so as to well control the epidemic for socio-economic stabilisation and development, they said.

Implementing the directive of the Prime Minister on stamping out the epidemic at an early date for the resumption of socio-economic activities, members of the committee agreed on a number of issues relating to the reception of foreign workers back to Vietnam.

They also asked relevant authorities to complete the procedures to recognise Khanh Hoa as eligible to pronounce the end of the epidemic.

* The same day, Deputy PM Dam attended a teleconference held by the Ministry of Defence to review the epidemic prevention and control measures and to deploy urgent tasks to combat the deadly virus in the coming time.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam speaks at a teleconference held by the Ministry of Defence on February 19, 2020. (Photo: VGP)

Speaking at the event, Dam praised the military units for fulfilling their responsibilities, making an important contribution to the prevention and control of Covid-19 in Vietnam.

So far, the country has been controlling the Covid-19 outbreak well, the senior government official said, adding that of the 16 infection cases, 14 have been successfully treated and the other two are in good health.

Vietnam has continuously controlled the border areas and effectively quarantined suspected cases, especially Vietnamese citizens returning home from epidemic areas. According to the deputy PM, military units have played an indispensable part in the good results.

He emphasised that it is the first time the army has deployed troops on a national scale to cope with an epidemic. This is an essential activity not only for prevention and control of Covid-19, but also a very necessary rehearsal to prepare for disease prevention and response to non-traditional security challenges in the future, Dam stressed.

Hailing the army’s efforts in making an important contribution to the fight against Covid-19, he also emphasised that the important role of the army is not only to strictly control the border line, receive citizens returning from epidemic areas and organise quarantine, but also to participate in the communication work.

As the epidemic in foreign countries remains complicated, Deputy PM Dam suggested that the army continue strengthening its forces and prepare essential medical equipment and supplies to get ready to cope with arising situations.

He also expressed his belief that with the core role of the army and the joint efforts from the whole country, Vietnam will definitely win against the Covid-19 epidemic.

Reports from the Ministry of Defence showed that the whole army has drastically implemented measures to prevent and fight Covid-19. It has mobilised forces and readied facilities to serve the reception and quarantine of about 37,200 Vietnamese citizens returning from epidemic areas.

As of February 17, 2,292 citizens have been received and isolated at 14 military points. They are provided with adequate accommodation and health care, including monitoring body temperature twice a day. So far, no cases of fever or suspected symptoms have been detected among them, or in the military forces.

* As of 12 pm on February 19, Hanoi has not recorded any cases of patients with Covid-19, while the cumulative total of suspected cases since the beginning of the outbreak stands at 74 and all have had negative test results.

Hanoi’s Youth Union members distribute free masks to local residents to prevent Covid-19. (Photo: NDO/Ha Thu)

* On the same day, the field hospital in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, organised a training course on infection control for 135 local doctors and nurses. Previously, on February 18, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health also organised similar courses for 81 nurses working at 14 specialised hospitals in the city, who are supporting the health monitoring for visitors at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

* According to the Department of Health of Hung Yen Province, as of February 19, the local health sector has opened 83 training classes on the prevention and control of Covid-19 for more than 5,600 local officials and employees. The province has organised disinfection spraying for more than 1,300 local venues.

* Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee has said it has allocated VND7 billion to the local health sector to purchase consumable medical supplies, protective equipment, and disinfecting chemicals. Quang Ngai has decided to establish two mobile teams to solve urgent problems of Covid-19 prevention and control in the province.

* After the quarantine of Son Loi Commune (Binh Xuyen District, Vinh Phuc Province), Agribank Binh Xuyen branch has considered restructuring loans for customers in the commune.