nCoV: Vietnam sets up epidemic prevention working group

Vietnam’s Government Office on January 31 set up an epidemic prevention working group in the context of widespread new coronavirus (nCoV) diseases.

The group has 13 members, including Nguyen Sy Hiep, deputy head of the Government Office; Nguyen Thanh Long, deputy health minister; To Anh Dung, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs; Nguyen Van Son, deputy minister of Public Security; Tran Don, deputy minister of National Defense.

Mai Tien Dung, minister and head of the Government Office, takes the lead of the group.

The group needs to keep an eye on the epidemic to update the situation and report daily to the prime minister; check the implementation of preventing and controlling nCoV infection as required by the PM; and suggest preventive measures.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of nCoV-caused Diseases. Photo: BizLive

On the same day, the Ministry of Health (MOH) set up 45 quick response teams at major hospitals across the country to cope with the nCoV spread.

Each team consists of at least two doctors and one ambulance that is equipped with emergency resuscitation facilities for patients and personal protective equipment for doctors and staff.

Late in January, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to set up the National Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of nCoV-caused Diseases led by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

Vietnam set up the teams after the country found three Vietnamese nationals positive with the nCoV following the two first cases who are Chinese visitors.

As of February 1, Vietnam reports six people infected with the nCoV.

After the latest case confirmed positive with the nCoV, the MOH declared outbreak in the central province of Khanh Hoa where a human-to-human transmission case happened. Khanh Hoa is also home to dozens of famous beaches which are destinations of millions of tourists, many of them are Chinese.