Strictly following 5K message would curb local COVID-19 infections: Expert

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The serious observance of the health ministry’s 5K message would help stop
the local transmission of in Vietnam, heard a meeting in Hanoi on May 10.

The 5K message
comprises khau trang (face masks), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distancing),
khong tu tap (no gatherings), and khai bao y te (health declarations).

Speaking at the
meeting of the ,
Associate Professor Dr , senior advisor at the Public Health
Emergency Operations Centre, pointed out four current major pandemic clusters in the
country – central Da Nang city, northern Yen Bai province, and the K Hospital and
the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, both in Hanoi, plus a new hotspot
in the northern province of Hai Duong.

COVID-19 cases
have been reported in 26 cities and provinces, with cases of local transmission
standing at 442, he told the meeting.

Health Minister
Nguyen Thanh Long also warned that Vietnam is on high alert as the coronavirus
can spread quickly.

Experts said this fourth
wave of COVID-19, which has hit the country since April 27, is more complex
than previous waves due to new coronavirus variants, most notably the one
believed to be behind the devastating surge in cases in India.   

It has spread simultaneously
to many localities and medical facilities, the minister said, stressing the
need to view testing as a key, urgent task at this time.

Hospitals with
more than 300 beds must house a real-time PCR testing laboratory, he requested.

At the meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the committee, urged localities that
are yet to report any COVID-19 cases to remain vigilant and maintain close
supervision.

Vietnam will not
complete mass vaccinations by the year’ end, according to the Deputy PM, so it is necessary
to strictly follow the , especially mask wearing.

He ordered a
closer watch on border areas and people under quarantine and to quickly detect
cases through contact tracing as well as regular screen testing.

Dam called on
people to raise their sense of responsibility in the pandemic fight, for the
sake of the country and the community./.