Strong measures urged to contain COVID-19 spread

ABO/NDO – Vietnam needs to continue with strong measures at airports and border gates to curb the spread of COVID-19 and respond to complex developments in the pandemic around the globe, heard a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on March 16.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting, the committee members noted that amidst the fast changing COVID-19 situation around the world, related agencies and units should thoroughly review and strictly implement the Prime Minister's directive on those subjected to compulsory medical isolation when entering Vietnam. At airports, it is necessary to measure body temperature and divide the entry of passengers as soon as they get off the planes.

Experts emphasised the need to synchronously take measures to detect infected and suspected cases as soon as possible by promoting IT application and synchronising databases, while effectively implementing the mandatory medical declaration as well as encouraging all Vietnamese citizens to make voluntary health declaration.

The delegates also agreed that there should be closer coordination between forces in receiving and organising the isolation of those entering Vietnam. In addition, it is necessary to optimise and improve the capacity of the testing system to quickly detect infected cases, as well as moving towards implementing disease control measures on domestic flights.

As of Monday morning (Mar 16), Vietnam has confirmed 57 coronavirus infected patients, of which 16 have recovered and been discharged (including foreign patients). Out of the 41 newly infected cases currently undergoing isolated treatment in the medical facilities across Vietnam, most of them are under good clinical control.

(Source: NDO)