Proactive measures for epidemic prevention and control during election day

In order to effectively prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the best safety for the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly Delegation and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure, 1,100 polling stations in the hamlets and neighborhoods in the province have previously been planned and arranged by the local authorities with epidemic prevention and control measures. Up to this point, health work and epidemic prevention and control have completed steps to both ensure the safety of voters participating in the election and to create an exciting atmosphere in the great festival of the people.

Binh Duong provincial leaders examine the preparation for election and Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control at the polling stations in Tan Uyen town. Photo: Do Trong

Proactive measures

In order for the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure to take place successfully, localities have actively paid attention to epidemic prevention and control on the election day. In the morning of May 21, the leadership team of Tan Uyen town inspected the preparation of polling stations in Uyen Hung ward. At each polling station, Mr. Nguyen Van Danh, Secretary of the Tan Uyen town Party Committee, did not forget to remind local cadres about proactive epidemic prevention and control on election day; enough human resources and medical supplies are ensured and voters must keep a distance on voting. For suspected cases, the force must take countermeasures in accordance with the direction of the provincial Election Commission.

Regarding the epidemic prevention plan at all polling stations across the province, Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha, Standing Member of the provincial Party Committee and Deputy Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said that localities have arranged health and safety officers on duty of 24/7 at all polling stations in the province. Cases of close contact with Covid-19 F1 and F2 who are quarantined for treatment or isolated at home will be arranged for separate mobile voting. The polling stations are arranged to separate voters to separate ballot boxes for people with symptoms of respiratory disease, people with epidemiological factors, and people of fever. Officers in charge of ballot boxes must wear masks and keep a safe distance.

For concentrated medical quarantine and isolation areas for treatment of Covid-19 patients, separate ballot boxes are used and are strictly disinfected when bringing in and out of the areas. People carrying ballot boxes in and out of the isolation area are equipped with protective equipment and disinfected according to regulations. After voting, the ballot boxes will be taken outside to count the votes and carry out disinfection steps as prescribed.

The system of health stations in communes, wards and townships assigns 1-2 health groups to monitor, receive, advise and handle people with epidemiological factors, suspected infection, and health incidents of delegates, officials and people at polling stations. Disinfection and sterilization of election areas are carried out. Each public hospital arranges 1-2 mobile emergency teams, ready to assist in handling emergency situations at polling stations. Medicines, chemicals, and intravenous fluids are fully prepared to ensure continual and effective reception, examination, collection and treatment of people on examination and hospitalization.

When there is one or more suspected cases of infection with epidemiological factors at one or more polling stations, the "5K" message of Ministry of Health will be strictly implemented to everyone at the polling place. In this case, voting by separate ballot box will be applied and the voting areas will be disinfected. In case there is one or more cases of the disease at many polling stations, a Front Command Committee is immediately set up to directly direct the epidemic prevention and control and to consider medical isolation of many neighborhoods, the whole commune, ward or the whole district, town or city, to implement social distancing in localities outside the medical quarantine areas to control the spread of the disease.

Continually effective information dissemination

We were present in Di An ward of Di An city in the days when the whole nation was bustling with excitement towards the election of deputies to the 15^th National Assembly Delegation and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure. Currently, Di An ward has 8 constituencies with 44 polling stations. Due to the complicated situation of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Election Commission of Di An ward strictly grasped the steps and procedures for organizing elections so that voters can vote safely. Promoting the role of the community Covid-19 team, in the previous days, the members went directly to each house and checked every person to make medical declarations.

Mr. Ly Hung Minh Diep, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council cum Chairman of the Election Commission of Di An Ward, said that up to this point, all medical preparations and prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic servicing the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly Delegation and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure have been comprehensively implemented. At 44 polling stations in the area, the ward regularly inspects hygiene and organizes disinfection and cleaning of the environment.

In particular, the Election Commission of the ward assigns tasks and arranges reception and supervision forces and requests all voters and election workers to wear masks and wash their hands with soap or disinfectant solution before entering and after leaving the voting booths. Voters participating in voting are instructed to maintain a distance of 1 meter with limit contact and no gathering in groups at the polling station. If a voter has a fever above 37.5 Celsius degrees, the reception force will immediately transfer that voter to the line for those at risk.

Meanwhile in Ben Cat town, up to date, 293 people in the town are taking medical isolation measures at home. For those being isolated at home, the Election Commission of the town and wards will promote propaganda so that these people can be isolated at home and an extra ballot box will be delivered to their homes Doctor Nguyen Hong Thai, Director of Ben Cat town Medical Center, said that in the past few days, the polling stations in the town have been thoroughly cleaned. However, to ensure a clean environment and space before the election day, the center will continue to disinfect the entire voting area. The toilet area is also clean and has hand soap for voters. The center also arranges trash cans with lids to collect and treat garbage to ensure hygiene.

 “At the polling stations in the zones and hamlets, staffs are assigned to guide the collection of used masks, towels, and tissues. At each polling station, there are waste containers and infectious waste collection bins. The process of collecting, transporting and treating waste is carried out in accordance with the "Guidelines for waste management and hygiene in the Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control." After that, each locality assigns the Division of Natural Resources and Environment to contract with Binh Duong Waste Treatment Enterprise to collect, transport and treat hazardous solid waste that is at risk of Covid-19 infection," said Thai.

Reported by Kim Ha – Quang Tam – Translated by Vi Bao