Actively prevent and control the re-outbreak of COVID-19

In the context that the COVID-19panidemic tends to increase from the beginning of April 2023, the Provincial People’s Committee has issued a plan and directed the Department of Health (the standing agency of the Provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control) to assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the People’s Committees of districts, city and relevant agencies to proactively take measures to prevent and control the pandemic.

According to information recorded from the national infectious disease surveillance system, the COVID-19 pandemic situation tends to increase from the beginning of April 2023, especially, on April 17, 2023, the whole country recorded 1,000 cases of COVID-19.

Staff of the Health Station of Chi Lang town, Chi Lang district injecting COVID-19 vaccine to students in the area

In Lang Son province, the number of cases recorded from January 1, 2023 to the end of April 17, 2023 was 109 cases, of which 98 cases were recorded from the middle of March 2023 until now (accounted for 90% of cases from the beginning of the year).

Mr. Ly Kim Soi, Deputy Director of the Department of Health said: Faced with that situation, the Department of Health has advised the Provincial People’s Committee to direct the departments, agencies, People’s Committees of districts, cities and affiliated units according to their functions, tasks, proactively implement a number of measures to control the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province, determined to not let the pandemic break out, and maintain the results of pandemic prevention and control.

Accordingly, all levels and sectors have increased the implementation of measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic at educational institutions, surveillance at border gates, in health facilities and in the community for early detection and timely treatment, prevent the disease from spreading.

Mr. Le Tuan Minh, Chairman of Van Lang District People’s Committee said: In order to control the pandemic well, on April 14, 2023, the District People’s Committee issued Official Letter No. 782/UBND-VP on strengthening  COVID-19 prevention and control. In which, departments, agencies, mass organizations, armed forces units, People’s Committees of communes and townships are required to thoroughly grasp and strictly follow the direction of the central and provincial governments in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the units focused on vaccination and the media to advise people to take measures to prevent and control the pandemic on public transport and at places and events that gather people, especially in the upcoming holidays of April 30 and May 1. On April 17, in the district, two positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 were detected, the relevant units quickly localized, isolated and treated according to regulations.

Mrs. Duong Thi Nguyet, Chi Lang ward, Lang Son city said: On April 18, 2023, my son and I went to the city’s health center to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Previously, due to COVID-19, we could not participate in vaccination. Now it’s been 4 months as prescribed and I see that the cases tend to increase, so I take the initiative to have my children vaccinated on time to prevent the disease more effectively.

According to the report of the Department of Health, as of April 17, the province has injected more than 2 million doses of the vaccine against COVID-19 to ensure safety. Specifically, for the group of subjects aged 18 and over eligible for vaccination against COVID-19, the rate of injection of 1st and 2nd doses reached 100%; the rate of 3rd dose is 92.1%; The rate of 4th dose is 125% (including those from outside the province). The rate of injection for the group of subjects from 12 to 17 years old reached 99.1% with the first dose; 98.9% for the 2nd dose and 77.5% for the 3rd dose. For subjects from full 5 years old to under 12 years old, the rate of 1st injection was 100%, the 2nd injection rate was 91.7%. With this result, Lang Son is in the group of provinces and cities with high vaccination rates in the country.

Along with vaccination, all levels of sectors have strengthened supervision to promptly handle COVID-19 outbreaks, not to spread on a large scale. District hospitals and health centers have actively prepared plans to collect and treat patients and actively improve treatment capacity, ensure the number of drugs, biological products for testing, supplies, chemicals and equipment for pandemic prevention and control activities. Ensuring the maximum reduction of severe transfer and death due to COVID-19.

Doctor Dang Huy Du, Deputy Director of the Provincial General Hospital said: To ensure that the hospital is a safe place in pandemic prevention and control, the unit has developed scenarios and response plans for each level. We have arranged the Department of Infectious Diseases as an isolation area, treating COVID-19 patients. In clinical and subclinical departments, when detecting that a patient is being treated with COVID-19, the hospital will arrange a separate room for isolation and treatment. In addition to ensuring adequate drugs and medical supplies for pandemic prevention and control, the unit has carried out screening and rapid testing for cases with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 at the Department of Examination and Emergency Department, contribute to ensuring no cross-infection between patients, patients’ family members and medical staff.

Staff of the Health Station of Tan My Commune, Van Lang District check and screen before injecting COVID-19 vaccine for people in the area

Along with actively developing plans for pandemic prevention and control at provincial hospitals, district health centers, the city has actively advised the steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control in the districts and cities to assess the risk of pandemics in the area; strengthen propaganda and guidance on the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic and home health care management for infected people, professional measures to prevent pandemics under the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

Thinking that, along with the initiative of all levels and sectors, to improve the effectiveness of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, not letting an outbreak of the pandemic in the area, every citizen needs to actively take measures to prevent and control the pandemic and spread the message “2 No + vaccines, medicine, treatment + technology + people’s consciousness and other measures”. At the same time, people need to strictly abide by the regulations on medical declaration and isolation at home when sick and participate in full and timely vaccination as prescribed.