This is notable content in Express Dispatch 1158/CD-BCDQG on urgently promoting measures to prevent and control COVID-19 infection in healthcare facilities.
Article table of contents
Suspension of the operation of hospitals classified as unsafe in Vietnam (Internet image)
After 99 days without any community transmission cases of COVID-19 in Vietnam, as of July 23rd, 2020, hospitals have detected several new cases of COVID-19, including healthcare workers, and the source of transmission has not been determined.
In the face of the complex and dangerous development of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Danang City, Vietnam, in order to ensure the safety of patients, healthcare workers, and the community, the National Steering Committee, the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-run cities, the Director of the Department of Health, the Director of hospitals, and the heads of relevant units are required to strictly implement the following measures:
1. Directors of healthcare facilities must urgently review, reinforce, and strictly implement regulations on preventive measures and disease control measures that have been issued. They should make a list and monitor all healthcare workers and individuals related to urgent notifications from the Ministry of Health and those with epidemiological factors.
2. Strengthen screening measures and early testing for SARS-CoV-2 for suspected patients and healthcare workers, including cases with unclear epidemiological histories, in order to detect cases early and implement timely isolation. Absolutely avoid late detection of cases.
3. Implement the assessment of the level of safety in preventing and controlling the pandemic according to Decision 3088/QD-BYT dated July 16th, 2020 on "Criteria for Safe Hospitals in Preventing and Controlling COVID-19 and Acute Respiratory Infections", and report fully according to the guidance of the Department of Health Examination and Treatment Management. Review and identify all safety risks in the hospital's pandemic prevention and control measures and urgently address any existing issues immediately after the assessment.
4. Assign the Department of Health Examination and Treatment Management, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health, and the Department of Health to directly instruct, inspect, and urge healthcare facilities to strictly implement this Official Dispatch. They should report to the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the provincial People's Committee to consider suspending the operation of hospitals classified as "unsafe".
5. The National Steering Committee recommends the Chairman of the Steering Committee of provinces and centrally-run cities, the Department of Health Examination and Treatment Management, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health, the Director of the Department of Health, the Director of hospitals, and the heads of relevant units to instruct and urgently implement these measures. The heads of healthcare facilities must take full responsibility if they do not implement COVID-19 preventive measures at their assigned healthcare facilities.
More details can be found in Official Telegram 1158/UBND-NCST, issued on July 27th, 2020.
Nguyen Trinh
