Currently, due to the increase of Covid-19 infection cases in the northern and central provinces, localities in the province have both taken the initiative to strengthen disease prevention control measures and strict control of people entering the province and responding to Omicron variant. Currently, this work is taking place quite urgently in all units and localities in the province.
Be ready for different situations
Dr. Do Viet Hung, Deputy Director of Di An City Medical Center, said that the center is urgently implementing monitoring and testing measures to detect right away Omicron infection in the area. The Center collaborates with the Provincial Center for Disease Control to collect samples and send them to Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City for gene sequencing in case of suspected Omicron infection.
In particular, the center also prepares a centralized quarantine facility for quarantine and disease control as detecting cases entering and returned to the province with epidemiological factors related to Omicron variant. The center also established a separate Covid-19 Patient Treatment Area at the former Cultural Center of An Binh Ward to receive, provide first aid and treatment for F0 patients, in case of asymptomatic Omicron infection, mild and moderate level on the first and second tiers.
The provincial medical branch is strengthening the capacity of the healthcare system to treat Covid-19 patients at all levels. In photo: Covid-19 patient treatment area in Di An city.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mai Thi Kim Dung, Deputy Director of Bau Bang District Medical Center, said that if there are cases of Omicron infection in the area, Bau Bang district will determine to control, supervises disease prevention control right from agencies, units, enterprises and residential areas. In particular, Bau Bang district strengthens investigation and tracing of all identified or suspected cases and exposed to the source of Omicron infection, implements isolation and supervision to ensure strict control, to prevent cross-infection and spreading in the community...
Also with the initiative, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nguyen, Director of Phu Giao district Medical Center, said: "The district is intensifying communication to raise people's awareness and vigilance of Omicron variant. The center also recommends people do not gather when it is not necessary situations, strictly follow the recommendations of Ministry of Health and receive full vaccination. People, who enter Binh Duong province, must strictly perform medical declaration, limit direct contact with surrounding people, do not leave their accommodation, test SARS-CoV-2 as prescribed”.
Build a battle, respond proactively
The Covid-19 pandemic in the world continues to have unpredictable developments with the Omicron variant. There is now fairly clear reasons for assessing the Omicron variant spread much faster, while there is not enough evidence for a lower toxicity of Omicron compared to Delta variant. Some studies show that even with two shots of Covid-19 vaccine, the risk of becoming infected by Omicron is still significantly higher than that of Delta variant.
Even in cases when the toxicity of Omicron is lower than that of Delta, but at a rapid spreading rate, the healthcare system will face the risk of overcrowding, leading to the death of many people. Currently, due to the increase of infection rate in the northern and central provinces, there is a very high chance that an outbreak of Omicron infection will appear in Binh Duong province.
Nguyen Loc Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said that the province assigned Department of Health to follow the disease situation, promptly direct and instruct necessary and appropriate measures to prevent and control the Covid-19, not to be alarmed and shocked; prevent overload in healthcare system on a large scale. Medical sector needs to urgently provide guidance on assessment of pandemic levels and necessary disease prevention control measures, in accordance with the disease situation, winter weather and the risk of Omicron variant.
In addition, Department of Health needs to strengthen the direction of epidemiological surveillance to detect new variants early. All units and localities have to strengthen the direction of disease prevention control measures; strictly inspect and handle organizations and individuals that violate regulations on disease prevention and control.
“Department of Health needs to urgently direct and organize the implementation of safe and rapid vaccination in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Health, not to leave any cases subject to the vaccination but do not receive full vaccination, including booster shots, especially those in high-risk groups. Localities distribute medicines to all people infected with the coronavirus as soon as possible. Medical sector must prevent drug shortages", Nguyen Loc Ha emphasized.
In response to the Omicron variant, Department of Health collaborates with localities to train, treat at home, at units, avoid overcrowding in hospitals. Medical sector also check and proactively strengthen healthcare system capacity at all levels, set up detailed plans with specific scenarios, not to be passive; must guarantee that infected people have access to medical services, do not receive medicine, not being managed and monitored.
Reported by Hoang Linh - Translated by Ngoc Huynh
