Viet Nam not to change COVID-19 strategy, infection sources under control
Viet Nam will stick to the COVID-19 strategy it has adopted since the first wave of the coronavirus, experts agreed at a meeting of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Ha Noi on May 10.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam says Viet Nam will not change its COVID-19 strategy. (Photo: VGP) |
The fourth wave of the coronavirus has attacked 26 cities and provinces across Viet Nam, with more than 400 locally transmitted cases confirmed, after the virus recurred on April 28.
The fresh outbreak is more complicated and difficult to control due to the emergence of new strains of the virus, especially variant B.1.617.2 originating from India which is believed to be more transmissible than predecessor strains, they said.
In addition, clusters of infection have been detected in a number of localities and especially medical facilities.
However, Viet Nam is effectively controlling the fresh outbreak thanks to the COVID-19 strategy it has so far adopted to halt the spread of the virus in the community.
“Our COVID-19 strategy remains unchanged,” said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, referring to drastic measures in place, including swift contact tracing, early detection, isolation and testing.
“It is also imperative to tighten border control, and effectively manage people in quarantine facilities and those under self-isolation at home in order to stop the source of infection,” said Dam, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
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| Swift tracing contact, early detection, isolation and testing have proved effective in Viet Nam. |
He pointed to the fact that the virus is more transmissible in closed areas such as bars or massage parlors, which requires localities to effectively control these non-essential services.
He reminded localities to stay calm and take necessary measures so that they do not cause any chaos and negatively affect business operations as well as people’s life.
“No country is safe when the world is unsafe. No Viet Namese is safe when the whole country is unsafe. Each individual must take responsibility first for himself and his relatives and then for the country and the community,” he stressed.
According to the Deputy PM, once people are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, they must strictly abide by the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 rules, including donning face masks, avoiding large gatherings and keeping a safe distance when going out.
Also at the meeting, experts shared the view that Viet Nam is gradually controlling four sources of infection in Da Nang, and Yen Bai, and at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No2 and K Cancer Hospital No2 in Hanoi.
Better implementing the 5K message will help disrupt the ongoing infection chain in the community, said Tran Dac Phu, senior advisor to the Ministry of Health.
| The Ministry of Health has encouraged people to follow its 5K message in Viet Namese, namely Khau Trang (face mask), Khu khuan (Disinfection), Khoang cach (Distance). Khong tap trung (No gathering), and Khai bao y te (Health declaration). |
(Source: VOV)
