The war on COVID-19 is still to
The war on COVID-19 is still to come
According to experts, COVID-19 is an unprecedented epidemic with rapid
escalation. Within only four months, it has infected more than 1.5 million
people across 212 countries and territories worldwide, claiming the lives of
nearly 110,000 people.
From the early stage of the outbreak, the Vietnamese Government and health
sector identified it as a dangerous pandemic which can seriously affect people’s
health. Thus, a series of strong measures with one level higher than WHO
recommendations have been taken to contain COVID-19 spread.
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Social distancing, wearing face masks, and washing hands properly
are currently the most effective "vaccines" in preventing and
fighting COVID-19 in the current period. |
Never before have the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Government, and the Prime
Minister put forward such drastic and synchronous measures on epidemic
prevention and control, following the spirit of “fighting the pandemic is like
fighting the enemy”. The entire political system and the whole people have been
actively participating in the fight against COVID-19. As a result, Vietnam has
managed the outbreak well and the country’s efforts have been highly appreciated
by the international community.
However, it is just the beginning. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also
Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control,
warned that although we may have won the battle, the war is still ahead.
As the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the country and the world at large has seen
complicated developments, it is necessary to stay focus on the proposed measures
to win the war. Accordingly, Vietnam must be consistent with the five principals
of epidemic prevention and control, which are: preventing the spread, detecting
infections, quarantining infected and suspected cases, sealing off affected
areas, and suppressing the outbreak.
At the same time, it must stick to the “FOUR on the spot” model to fight
COVID-19 (timely prevention, isolation, treatment on the spot; required
facilities on the spot; funding on the spot; and supportive human resources on
the spot).
More than ever, functional ministries, sectors, the political system and people
as a whole should not be subjective but instead devoted in containing the
pandemic following the directions of the Politburo, the Secretariat, the
Government, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19
Prevention and Control, and health sector.
Vietnam is entering the third phase of the COVID-19 fight with high risk of
community spread. In addition to the close supervision and quarantine of those
who return Vietnam from overseas, attention must be paid to the early detection
of positive cases in the community.
When detecting a case in the community, it is necessary to immediately identify
the area as a potential hotbed, thus functional agencies must take prompt
actions to suppress the outbreak and identify the people who have had contact
with the positive case.
Notably, a worker factory was recently tested positive for COVID-19, thus the
management boards of industrial parks, factories and workshops need to strictly
follow the Ministry of Health’s guidance to fight against COVID-19 in the
workplace.
At the same time, they must strictly comply with the Prime Minister-approved
Directive No. 16 / CT-TTg, which states that heads of the above-mentioned
facilities are responsible for ensuring absolute safety and fully implementing
the epidemic preventive measures; and for requesting that their employees fill
health declaration forms, restrict travel, and maintain distance from each
other. The directive also requests unnecessary activities, minimise crowded
gatherings, and prevention of potential risks in the spread of the disease.
People across the country have made significant contribution to the success of
the initial battles in the COVID-19 fight, even though their daily lives and
economic benefits are being affected. However, in recent days when the number of
COVID-19 cases has decreased, some people have been subjective and are not
strictly complying with regulations on social distancing or the instructions of
functional agencies.
As our country is in the "golden stage" of COVID-19 prevention and control,
every citizen needs to raise his awareness, responsibility and obligations in
proactively taking preventive measures to protect the health of themselves and
of the whole community, including the practice of social distancing. Social
distancing, wearing face masks, and washing hands properly are currently the
most effective "vaccines" in preventing and fighting COVID-19 in the current
period.
Source: NDO