Two field hospitals with a combined capacity of treating 600 COVID-19 patients have been set up in northern Hai Duong province within just 24 hours.

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long speaks at the online meeting with with health units.

At an online meeting on January 29 with health units in charge of establishing the hospitals, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long hailed the fast action of Hai Duong, with the support from the Health Ministry, the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases and Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.

One of them was built at the medical centre of Chi Linh city, and staffed by 45 doctors and about 70 nurses who can provide treatment for 200 patients. The hospital has admitted 31 patients, including one with underlying diseases and two pregnant women.

The other one, converted from the Hai Duong Medical Technical University with 210 beds, is treating 26 COVID-19 patients.

At the online meeting between the health ministry and relevant units
in charge of establishing the field hospitals.

The Ministry of Health asked Hai Duong to establish a testing laboratory that can handle 50,000 samples each day in order to conduct mass testing as early as possible.

Minister Long said the ministry will send machines to the locality to support on-the-spot treatment, noting only patients in serious conditions should be transferred to centrally-run hospitals.

A third field hospital would be established if the situation gets worse, Long added.

Prof. Nguyen Gia Binh, head of the Consultation Group for Severe COVID-19 Patients under the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, suggested Quang Ninh immediately apply treatment methods set by the Health Ministry.