Facing the current complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, speaking to the press about the Ministry of Health’s emergency response measures for treatment of Covid-19 patients, especially patients in serious conditions, Mr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of Examination and Treatment Management Department said that all professional officers of the Ministry of Health were sent to Da Nang to suppress the pandemic and minimize deaths. 

 Mr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of Examination and Treatment Management Department 

The continuous information about coronavirus cases and deaths in Da Nang made people confused and worried. Could you give more detailed information on the situation of the cases and the treatmentfor these patients?

- According to research, the genetic sequence of scientists, the new SARS-CoV-2 strain (the 6th strain in Vietnam) discovered in Da Nang has the ability to spread rapidly. Besides, it is clear that situation of patients in this period ismore dangerous than the previous period.

Currently, all good doctors have been sent to Da Nang to treat patients in serious and critical conditions. However, it is worrying that the majority of patients is elderly and has many complicated background conditions, many of them are undergoing hemodialysis, suffering from cardiovascular and kidney diseases, even cancer, so they fall into a critical situation more quickly. Therefore, their conditions are closely monitored and managed through the Covid-19 online support and management center.

According to statistics, byAugust 3, the country recorded 621 Covid-19 cases, 23% of them did not have clinical symptoms. Of which, 373 cases were cured (accounting for 60%), 6 died (accounting for 1%), 10 patients were in critical conditions and 21 cases were in serious conditions.

In order to control the pandemic, the Ministry of Health also requests medical examination and treatment facilities to closely monitor the developments of the Covid-19 pandemic to detect any suspected cases and cases coming from areas having Covid-19 patients and channel and apply isolation in a timely manner and control Covid-19 infection in health examination and treatment facilities, especially for high-risk subjects.

How are the disease control measures in Da Nang taking effect, sir?

- After detecting the first cases in Da Nang, two patients 416 and 418 were in serious conditions, the Treatment Sub-Committee immediately activated the remote consultation system and organized a consultation for treatment with competent agencies. Doctors at Cho Ray Hospital, including doctors who treated the patient91 (British patient), have beensent to Da Nang Hospital and taken the ECMO system to treat patients immediately.

Following the Prime Minister's direction of "leaving no one behind" and minimizing deaths, the Professional Council (including the top national experts on positive resuscitation, emergency, infections, lungs) focus on researching andconducting continuous consultations, an average of one consultation per day; there are consultations even lasting late with frank and open comments.

To support Da Nang in treatment work, the Ministry of Health provided more manpower and equipment to strengthen testing capacity. At the same time, the good doctors of hospitals: Cho Ray, Tropical Diseases (Ho Chi Minh City), Bach Mai (Hanoi) on positive resuscitation have been mobilized to Da Nang and Quang Nam to operate machines and equipment. Medicine, antifungal drugs and anticoagulants have been also provided.

The Ministry of Health has issued a written regulation that cases (returning from Da Nang and showing signs of Covid-19 infection) going to designated health facilities for screening of Covid-19 will be covered by health insurance.

In addition, the Ministry of Health has decided to establish a special standing unit for the Covid-19 pandemic prevention in Da Nang City, including 65 people who are leaders, experts, doctors and staff from units of the Ministry of Health to enhance the direction and implementation of the prevention and control activities for Covid-19 pandemic and treatment of the patients in the city.

In addition, the Ministry of Health has mobilized nearly 1,000 people to serve pandemic prevention in Da Nang. On July 29 and 30, the Ministry of Health trained on how to collect SARS-CoV-2 samples, how to trace close contacts with Covid-19 patients to nearly 400 officials, teachers and student of Da Nang University of Medical Technology & Pharmacy and trained the tracing of close contacts with Covid-19 patients for 400 students of Military Zone 5 School.

In particular, the Ministry of Health mobilized five lecturers and 150 students from Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy to Da Nang. This entire force will support isolation monitoring, sampling, traceability and some other pandemic prevention activities.

The Ministry of Health has issued a written request to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases to send a mobile team to quickly respond to the Covid-19 pandemic to strengthen, coordinate, support and treat patients who are in serious conditions at Hue Central General Hospital.

Motivated by the above-mentioned solutions, the Ministry of Health is expected to soon control the pandemic in Da Nang and minimize the number of deaths caused by Covid-19.

Thank you Sir!