Nguyễn Đình Anh, head of the Department of Communication and Emulation and Reward under the Ministry of Health. Photo suckhoedoisong.vn

The Ministry of Health has issued the latest message on COVID-19 prevention and control reducing the 5K message 2K, masks and disinfection. Nguyễn Đình Anh, head of the Department of Communication and Emulation and Reward under the Ministry of Health talks more about this.

What are the specific details of the latest message on COVID-19 prevention and control?

The 5K message of the Ministry of Health on COVID-19 prevention and control is now narrowed to 2K: Khẩu trang (face mask) and Khử khuẩn (disinfection). 

The new 2K message should also be combined with other safety measures such as vaccines, medicines, treatment, technology and public awareness.

Face masks are currently mandatory on public transportation and in health facilities where COVID-19 quarantine is taking place, as well as for people with symptoms of acute respiratory infection or those with or suspected to carry the coronavirus.

Everyone, except children under five years old, when entering public spaces in areas where the pandemic level is labelled as 'level 3' or 'level 4', is also required to wear face masks.

Staff at trade centres, supermarkets, and wholesale markets, as well as office employees who have direct client contact, must also wear face marks.

People who work in tight spaces such as bars, discotheques, karaoke parlours, gyms, beauty salons, massage facilities, circuses, stadiums, cinemas, and studios must wear face masks if they have client-facing positions.

In other cases, people are encouraged to wear face masks when in public places.

The ministry reminded people to regularly wash their hands with soap and clean water or hand sanitiser, maintain personal hygiene, and disinfect their living, working, and studying environments.

Why did the Ministry of Health change the message on protective measures against COVID-19?

In the early stages of the fight against COVID-19, the best protection measure is to use personal protective equipment when we did not know much about the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There was no specific treatment, especially no vaccine.

The 5K message – Khẩu trang (facemask), Khử khuẩn (disinfection), Khoảng cách (distancing), Không tụ tập (No large gathering), Khai báo y tế (Health declaration) – had been promulgated since August 2020 as a way to contain the spread of COVID-19 and advise people to comply and implement.

Recently, the number of new cases globally has decreased continuously. The number of severe infections and deaths has also dropped while the rate of vaccine coverage has increased. 

The situation in Việt Nam is under control. The rate of basic vaccination is high among age groups, especially those over 12 years old.

We have now switched to the strategy of adaptation, safety, flexibility and focused on socio-economic development. So the change of measures against COVID-19 is necessary to suit the new situation.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic is still complicated and unpredictable. The World Health Organization has also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has not ended, and vaccines are still the most effective measure to control the COVID-19.

Winter is coming and more respiratory diseases may break out, including the COVID-19. 

The Ministry of Health has launched a 2K+ communication campaign including masks and disinfection, vaccines, medicines, treatment, technology and public awareness and other measures to protect people's health.

Recently, many people have loosened measures to prevent COVID-19 such as not wearing face masks and disinfecting. Will this new message stimulate people to obey?

For this new message in pandemic prevention, the Ministry of Health wants media and press agencies continuing to actively accompany the ministry to spread the message strongly to the community and raise people's awareness, maintain or change behaviours for good health.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still existing with the emergence of new variants. The implementation of the 2K message and other measures is very necessary.

We also recommend people to get the 3rd and 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health. Children between the ages of five and 12 should be vaccinated with two basic doses.

Compliance with the ministry's pandemic prevention message not only protects our own health but also protects the health of our families and the whole community, so that we can live together safely during the pandemic. VNS