Lang Son activates higher-level scenario to stay proactive in COVID-19 fight

(LSO) – Facing complex developments of the acute respiratory disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the health sector of Lang Son province has built four detailed scenarios to gear up for the epidemic.

Second scenario activated

Director of the provincial Health Department Nguyen The Toan said amid complex and dangerous developments of COVID-19, the health sector has built four detailed scenarios: infected cases reported at local border gates, infected cases reported in the province, there are people having close contact with COVID-19 infected cases and people returning from COVID-19-hit areas, and the disease spreads in the local community.

Complying with directions given by central agencies and the provincial administration, the Health Department has activated the second scenario, in which there are infected cases in the locality, prompting medical units enhance their disease prevention capabilities.

Accordingly, when there are people with fever symptoms in the province, and they previously had close contact with Chinese nationals entering Vietnam within 14 days or infected patients, local organisations, individuals and clinics must comply with regulations on on-site management of infection sources, limit contact, and wear face masks. After that, they have to inform district-level medical centres so as to move the suspected cases to the centres’ isolation wards for management and testing. They also have to strictly follow rules on infection control and medical waste treatment at isolation wards.

A medical worker of the provincial General Hospital checks the body temperature of a person quarantined at the hospital.

To respond to the second scenario, the Health Department has assigned 13 provincial hospitals and district-level medical centres to receive, isolate and treat suspected and infected cases if there are any. Each facility has at least 10 standardised isolation rooms, and isolation wards must strictly control bacterial contamination and prevent cross infection within the establishment. They must implement all protection measures for health workers who directly examine, treat and care for patients while stocking more medical materials, medicine, chemicals and anti-virus equipment to stay ready in all circumstances.

Medical units ready to fight COVID-19 epidemic

As the top hospital in Lang Son, right after the Health Department gave directions, the provincial General Hospital set up a steering board and quick response teams to stay prepared to respond to any circumstances.

Deputy Director of the provincial General Hospital Truong Quy Truong said the hospital has zoned the entire ground floor of its infectious diseases department for receiving, isolating and treating suspected and infected COVID-19 cases. Its quarantine and treatment plans will follow the Health Ministry’s regulated procedures for handling infection sources so as not to expose medial workers and patients’ relatives to infection risks. The hospital has also stocked sufficient medicine, medical equipment and materials and other necessary resources to deal with the disease.

Aside from provincial hospitals, district-level medical centres have also played an active part in COVID-19 prevention and control.

Hoang Thi Hoa, Director of the medical centre of Loc Binh district, said the centre has issued plans on disease prevention and control for clinics of communes and townships. It has prepared an isolation ward with 20 beds, established two quick response teams, and fumigated all schools in the district. It has also placed more hand sanitizer at departments and rooms for people coming to receive examination and treatment to use. Besides, the centre has ordered communal-level clinics to coordinate in tracking and making list of people returning from China to put under monitoring.

So far, Lang Son hasn’t recorded any COVID-19 cases. However, as the situation could develop complicatedly, all people still need to stay proactive in disease prevention and adhere to the Health Ministry’s instructions and regulations./.