Ensuring effectiveness of Covid-19 prevention and control in each level

Right after the Ministry of Health issued the Decision No. 4800/QD-BYT on medical guidance for implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021 promulgating the Interim Regulation on “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic”, provincial People's Committee has also sent an official dispatch on the implementation of the resolution and decision in order to synchronously implement measures to ensure effectiveness in Covid-19 prevention and control in line with pandemic developments in each locality.

Three criteria to assess the level of pandemic risk

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, there are 3 criteria to assess the level of pandemic risk, including the number of new infections in the community, the coverage of vaccinations, and the ability to receive and treat patients at all levels. Accordingly, the first criterion with the number of new cases in the community at 100,000 people/week is classified into 4 levels from low to high in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization with level 1 under 20 cases; level 2 from 20 to less than 50 cases; level 3 from 50 to less than 150 cases and level 4 at more than 150 cases. Localities can reduce or increase the number of new cases in each level to be suitable with their real situations.

According to the Decision No.4800 of the Ministry of Health, the coverage of vaccination by age is also one of criteria to assess the level of pandemic risk. In picture: Vaccination against Covid-19 for people in Thu Dau Mot city’s Phu Hoa ward

The second criterion is about the proportion of people aged 18 years and over with at least 1 dose of Covid-19 vaccine in two levels from 70% of people aged 18 years and over with at least 1 dose of vaccine and less than 70% of people aged 18 years and over with at least one dose of vaccine. Localities can adjust vaccination rates in accordance with their real situations. In addition, in October 2021, localities are required to have at least 80% of people aged 65 and over with 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine. From January 2021, they are required to get at least 80% of people aged 50 and over with at least 80% of people aged 50 and over with full 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

The third criterion is to ensure the collection and treatment capacity of medical examination and treatment establishments at all levels. Regarding the adjustment of the level of the pandmic risk, if not meeting the third criterion, localities will not be allowed to reduce the level of pandemic risk. They are also forced to increase to one level of the pamdemic level if not meeting the requirement that at least 80% of people aged 65 and over receive full two dose of Covid-19 vaccine this October, unless they are facing the pandemic at the level 4 or no infected cases.

Guaranteeing requirements in each pandemic level

Nguyen Loc Ha, member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice-Chairman of provincial People's Committee, Deputy Head of provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control said that in order to ensure “safe and flexible adaptation and effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic in the spirit of the Government's direction and guidance of the Ministry of Health, provincial People's Committee has assigned to the Department of Health the tasks of setting up scenarios and plans to ensure medical work for Covid-19 prevention and control in each pandemic level; organizing the synchronous implementation of measures to ensure effectiveness in Covid-19 prevention and control in line with the developments of the pandemic in each locality.

The ability to receive and treat Covid-19 patients is also one of the three criteria to evaluate the level of pandemic risk in each locality. In picture: Thoi Hoa Covid-19 treatment area in Ben Cat town

Provincial Department of Health will also implement the Ministry of Health’s instructions on testing, isolation and medical monitoring for people coming from pandemic-hit areas and other localities; people entering the country; those who have completed concentrated isolation and been allowed to smoothly move to their places of residence, workplaces for production recovery and development. In addition, departments and sectors have been proactive to advise provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control and provincial People's Committee on considering and deciding to adjust criteria on the classification and level of the pandemic risk to be flexible with the developmens of the pandemic, vaccine coverage, actual conditions and implementation of the province for appropriate administrative measures for organizations, agencies, enterprises and people, including specific regulations and guidelines on capacity and number of people involved in production, business and service activities; public passenger transportation; intra-provincial or inter-provincial circulation and transportation of goods; direct education and training; culture, arts, events with large gatherings of people; activities of agencies and offices; religious establishments... They can flexibly apply specific additional measures, but not be contrary to the Government’s regulations do not obstruct the circulation of goods, production and business activities, people's daily life and travel.

In addition, departments and sectors must be proactive to coordinate with commune-level authorities to effectively solve urgent problems at grassroots level, participate in propagandizing, mobilizing and monitoring over the implementation of measures against the pandemic; mobilize people to raise their awareness in complying pandemic prevention and control measures; continue mobilizing organizations and enterprises to prevent and control the pandemic while maintaining and developing production and business activities...; uphold the creative spirit of people from all strata in pandemic prevention and control, realizing the dual goals. They will continue speeding up propanganda among people from all strata to understand and strictly implement provisions for "4 groups of measures applied for individuals" stated at the Resolution No.128; comply with the "5K" message of the Ministry of Health; make medical declarations by using QR codes while making dissemination of information about issues relating to the travel of people from areas with different pandemic levels, home treatment for people infected with Covid-19.

Provincial People's Committee has also required all-level authorities, sectors and localities to organize the implementation of anti-Covid-19 measures and economic development with the spirit of initiative, creativity, sticking to reality, not being subjective when the pandemic passes; ensure the “4 on-site” motto; carry out the procurement of medical supplies for Covid-19 prevention and control in accordance with regulations, ensuring publicity, and transparency…

The Decision No. 4800 of the Ministry of Health clearly states that testing is not indicated for people's travel; testing is only for cases coming from pandemic-hitepidemic areas at level 4 or in regional medical isolation (blockade) and suspected or indicated cases for epidemiological investigation from pandemic-hit areas at level 3. For people who have got full two doses of Covid-19 vaccine and recovered from the pandemic, they only conduct testing when being required for epidemiological investigation. This is carried out for cases under medical isolation or medical monitoring and those from pandemic-hit areas at level 4 or under regional medical isolation (blockade).

Provincial People's Committee has assigned the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities the task of guiding the criteria and methods of assessing and determining the level of the pandemic risk at the Decision No.4800 of the Ministry of Health, directing communal-level People's Committees to determine and assess the level of the pandemic risk, including: Level 1 - blue, level 2 - yellow, level 3 - orange, level 4 - red in quarters, hamlets and alleys. On that basis, they need to propose corresponding administrative measures to ensure safety, flexibility and efficiency in Covid-19 prevention and control in their localities.  

Reported by Minh Duy-Translated by Kim Tin