Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has underlined the need to carry out a range of bold measures aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the context of the disease having great potential to spread widely among the community.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc orders drastic measures to be taken ahead of epidemic peak 

In his speech during a cabinet meeting discussing COVID-19 prevention and control activities held in Hanoi on March 23, the cabinet leader stressed the necessity of intensifying epidemic prevention measures at isolation areas where patients have yet to be tested for the COVID-19.

There were also concerns raised by PM Phuc regarding the situation in which plenty of pubs, bars, and amusement parks remain crowded, therefore significantly increasing the chances of the disease spreading. In the face of complicated developments occurring globally, the government leader has requested that ministries and sectors move to take stronger measures aimed at containing the epidemic.

In addition, PM Phuc stressed the need in which to implement three urgent tasks. Firstly is to continue with strict control measures relating to entering and exiting the country, in addition to stringent medical examination measures being put on those looking to travel by road, air, and sea.

Second is to continue applying centralized isolation in accordance with regulations set by the Ministry of Health. Finally, there must be special quarantine methods imposed on people’s homes or on areas that have been placed under strict supervision by the health sector in order to slow the spread of the epidemic among the wider community.

According to a report released by the Government Office, there were 118 COVID-19 cases reported nationwide as of March 23, including 88 Vietnamese nationals. Of the total, 94 had arrived from epidemic-hit countries, with 24 being secondary infections.

Elsewhere, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control reported that as of the morning of March 23, there were a total of 52,790 people in quarantine. This includes 1,376 cases where people have been kept into quarantine at hospitals nationwide, 21,119 cases located in other facilities, in addition with 30,295 people being in their home or in residential areas.

Regarding the support provided by organisations and individuals for the purpose of epidemic prevention and control, the Government Office stated that by midday on March 23 the total amount of donations was close to VND303 billion, including nearly VND57.5 billion send via text messages.

With regards to the current situation globally, there have been 336,000 confirmed cases of the infection so far, causing nearly 15,000 deaths.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed the first rapid diagnosis of the COVID-19 which is capable of working in roughly 45 minutes. This diagnostic method is set to become the preferred method for use in hospitals and emergency rooms and is poised to come into use next week.