At the meeting of the Standing Committee of the government and the National Steering Committee for the prevention and control of Covid-19 in the afternoon of February 15, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc informed that no new infection cases have been detected in Binh Duong along with 6 provinces and cities in recent days. The achievement is the drastic effort of the whole political system with strong and decisive measures to promptly control the epidemic.
During Lunar New Year 2021, local people are abided by measures of pandemic prevention and control on their enjoyment of Tet welcoming. Photo: M. Hieu
Pandemic risks after Tet
As of February 16, Binh Duong had 6 cases of Covid-19 infection in the community (patients 1801, 1843, 1886, 1887, 1957 and 1980). In a stretch of 9 days, Binh Duong has not reported any new cases of Covid-19 infection. Outbreaks in Phu Giao district, Thu Dau Mot city and Thuan An city have basically been controlled. The F1 and F2 exposures were detected, monitored and quarantined. The test results were all negative. The lockdown of Phu Hoa ward was lifted from 23:00 on February 9. Ehome 4 Residential Area, Thuan An City has been narrowed the scope of the lockdown in the evening of February 11. As for risk cases from Hai Duong, Quang Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City, cumulatively 44 cases, were sampled and the results were negative for 43 cases, positive for 1 case of patient 1801. In addition, in the province, 7 F1 cases related to the epidemic have been found in Ho Chi Minh City. The detected F1 cases were all subjected to concentrated quarantine, sampled and tested negative for Covid-19. As for community screening tests, the health sector has collected 650 gross samples of 2,957 people. All pooled samples were negative to Covid-19.
According to Nguyen Hong Chuong, Director of Binh Duong provincial Department of Health, currently the outbreaks in Binh Duong have been controlled; however, the epidemic situations in the world and in Vietnam are still going on in a very complicated way. After the Lunar New Year, Binh Duong poses to many dangers, that is, people, workers, and students from provinces and cities of complicated epidemic situations as Hai Duong, Gia Lai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City return to Binh Duong to work and study. In particular, those who enter illegally, long-distance vehicles transporting passengers, goods, delivery staffs among others also have many potential risks. Currently, the health sector is continuing to trace objects related to epidemic outbreaks to implement universal health declarations and build up Covid-19 community prevention and control groups in localities to strengthen inspection, investigation and monitor of risky objects. In addition, the department is fulfilling the procedures to buy machinery, materials and equipment to conduct the Covid-19 confirmation test.
Cases of not wearing masks in public to be strongly punished
Previously, at the meeting of Binh Duong provincial Steering Committee for the prevention and control of Covid-19 in the morning of February 15, representatives of branches and localities focused on discussing solutions for disease prevention and control after Tet. Doan Van Dong, Chairman of People's Committee of Phu Giao district, said that on the occasion of Tet holiday, Phu Giao district organized an operation to strictly handle cases of not wearing masks in public. Thereby, the functional force of Phu Giao district sanctioned the administrative violation for a total amount of VND 89 million. In addition to sanctioning administrative violations, branches and unions of the district also distributed masks for free to the people, broadcast on loudspeakers to propagate the measures and remind everyone to strictly implement the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemics by maintaining medical reports when returning from epidemic areas. Meanwhile, Nguyen Thu Cuc, Chairwoman of Thu Dau Mot city People's Committee, said: “In the past Tet days, the number of people from all over the city visiting the pagoda is very large but they neglect to comply with recommendations of "5K" initiated by the Ministry of Health. The city Steering Committee for Disease Control has implemented epidemic prevention and control activities and recommended Buddhist followers coming to the pagodas to wear masks along with the help of sanitizers and temperature measuring device. But the potential risks of spreading the epidemic remains. The city Steering Committee continues to advocate for the Mazu Goddess Temple to temporarily close the shrine, not to welcome guests.”
At the meeting, leaders of department of education and trade asked for permission to let elementary and preschool students be off to the end of February to settle the situations while students of senior and junior high schools are expected to restart school on February 22.
Concluding the meeting, Nguyen Hoang Thao, Deputy Secretary of Binh Duong provincial Party Committee cum Chairman of Binh Duong provincial People's Committee acknowledged and praised the spirit of tireless work to fight and basically control the epidemic of the local forces; especially, the spirit of mutual love, sharing, and joining hands in disease prevention and control of businesses, philanthropists and communities. Therefore, up to now, Binh Duong has basically well controlled the epidemic. All tests F1, F2, and community tests were negative for Covid-19. The activities of quarantine, disease prevention and propaganda for the implementation of "5K" have been drastically carried out by localities.
The Chairman of Binh Dong provincial People's Committee noted that Phu Giao district fined VND 89 million against cases of not wearing masks as a strong and decisive way and suggested that localities and branches need to follow Phu Giao to multiply widely. He also noted that at the beginning of the year when there are many festival activities in the province, it is necessary to strictly comply with the Prime Minister's Directive 15 at pagodas and temples and agree with the proposal of the education and training sector on the return time of preschool children and students at all levels.
Reported by Kim Ha – Translated by Vi Bao
