Amid the risk of the spread of the XBB.1.5 sub-variant during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, Ho Chi Minh City will enhance anti-epidemic measures, including testing immigrants suspected of being infected with COVID-19.

Traveling and trade activities through border gates will surge during the Tet holiday, posing a high risk of the spread of variants and sub-variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to Vietnam although the country has not detected the XBB.1.5 sub-variant, according to a document on COVID-19 prevention and control during Tet issued on Wednesday by Tang Chi Thuong, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health.

Therefore, the department asked the municipal Center for Disease Control (HCDC) to be on guard at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City around the clock to supervise all inbound passengers.

Suspected cases will be taken to a temporary quarantine area for a check-up and COVID-19 test.

If they test negative for the coronavirus, they will continue completing immigration procedures and get instructions on self-monitoring their health at their residences.

If they test positive, the HCDC will work with relevant agencies to help them complete immigration procedures and they will be taken to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases to undergo a RT-PCR test and genome sequencing.

Officials of the HCDC will also be on duty at seaports in the city to obtain information on ships. Crew members showing COVID-19 symptoms will undergo tests.

If the result is negative, they will work as normal and self-monitor their health on ships.

If they test positive but show no or mild symptoms, they will be isolated on their ships. Their co-workers will work normally. 

Meanwhile, if their symptoms are serious, they will be transported to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment, RT-PCR testing, and genome sequencing.

The municipal health department also required organizers of events and festivals with a large number of participants to seriously comply with COVID-19 prevention and control measures, such as asking the participants to wear medical face masks, arranging hand wash basins, and offering hand sanitizers.

The city will enhance COVID-19 vaccination during the upcoming Tet holiday, which is due next week, to create favorable conditions for local residents to get vaccinated on time.

The field hospital No. 13 is maintained and will be ready for resumption within 24 hours when the pandemic situation worsens.

All general and specialized hospitals, excluding cosmetic ones, in the city must be willing to receive and treat COVID-19 patients.

Moreover, the city will strengthen the reception, management, and treatment of COVID-19 patients to prevent their conditions from getting worse and minimize deaths. The municipal healthcare sector will draw up a plan to arrange 10,000 beds for COVID-19 patients. 

All hospitals in the city should prepare human resources, infrastructure, equipment, medicines, and vehicles to meet the medical check-up and treatment demands of residents during the Tet holiday, the Department of Health required.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the XBB.1.5 sub-variant now dominates other Omicron sub-strains and has spread to about 70 countries as well as caused waves of infections in several parts of Asia.

XBB.1.5 has been the most contagious sub-variant of Omicron to date.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!