Health Ministry warns of future risks of COVID-19 outbreaks
VOV.VN - Vietnam is currently at high risk of fresh novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks occurring within the community due to the continued global spread of the virus, especially in neighbouring countries.
Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long issued a warning during the course of a virtual conference held on April 16 with representatives from 63 localities throughout the nation.
He noted that border areas located in the southwestern region can be considered potential hot spots, with the Ministry of Health’s working delegation keeping a close watch on relevant areas.
Minister Long also suggested that local authorities should move to tighten control of border gates, open crossings, and trails, while also ensuring that entrants go through a strict quarantine period. Without these measures, it can be viewed as likely that the epidemic will break out once more, he added.
Furthermore, the Health Minister urged all localities, especially provinces which share a border with Cambodia, to be vigilant and manage illegal entry and exit activities whilst deploying other measures to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Health has also requested localities outline scenarios on large-scale testing, isolation, and treatment for immediate activation if an outbreak recurs.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), many countries worldwide have started to record an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases following measures being loosened. On average the world recognises between 600,000 and 700,000 new cases daily, in addition to between 1,000 and 2,000 deaths.
Vietnam has currently experienced 21 days without any new locally-transmitted cases, with the country continuing to detect more imported cases.
According to Dang Quang Tan, head of the Health Ministry’s Preventive Medicine Department, the entire nation must remain highly vigilant against the possible recurrence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
