COVID-19 fight strengthened on high risk of Omicron entry
The Health Ministry has sent a dispatch to chairpersons of municipal and provincial People’s Committees on strengthening COVID-19 prevention and control measures against Omicron variant.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Health Ministry has sent a dispatch to chairpersons of municipal and provincial People’s Committees on strengtheningCOVID-19 prevention and control measures against Omicron variant.
On November 25, the World Health Organisation declared Omicron (B.1.1.529),which was first detected in South Africa, as a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern.
As of December 2, at least 27 countries and territories had reportedinfections related to the variant. Vietnam has not yet detected any cases infected with the new variant, however the risk of its entry and transmissionis very high.
Under the dispatch, localities were asked to continueeffectively following the Government’s Resolution No.128/NQ-CP and the HealthMinistry’s Decision No.4800/QD-BYT on the effective implementation ofprinciples 5K vaccine, medicines technology public awareness, focusing onthe main pillars of testing, vaccination and public awareness.
They must build scenarios to cope with the pandemic at thegrassroots level, improve the capacity of the grassroots medical system, ensure sufficientmedicines and medical supplies, and continue upholding the role ofcommunity-based COVID-19 teams and mobile medical stations.
They were assigned to enhance supervision over entries from abroad,especially those from Omicron-hit areas such as the southern African region and severalEuropean countries, as well as those showing symptoms of coughing, high temperatureto discover infections. At the same time, they must accelerate vaccination forthose aged above 12, with priority given to those aged above 50 and living withunderlying diseases.
About COVID-19 treatment, the top priority will be mitigatingdeaths by ensuring sufficient medical supplies and other necessary conditionsat the earliest.
Cities and provincesmust enhance inspection in agencies🐻, units, businesses, especially inhospitals, manufacturing facilities, supermarkets, airports and bus stations☂while regularly updating their statuses on the COVID-19 safe living map./.
Vietnam is working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) in its response to new coronavirus variant Omicron, according to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has agreed with the Health Ministry’s proposal on suspending international flights to and from some African countries due to concerns over the Omicron variant.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed the suspension of flights, including repatriation flights, from 10 African countries to prevent the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 from entering Vietnam.
The Vietnam Aviation Authority recently issued a directive ordering units in the sectors to intensify measures against the COVID-19 pandemic in face of the coming into being of a new variant.
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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
