Passengers arriving at Tân Sơn Nhất Airport in HCM City have their temperatures checked as part of an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. — VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

HCM CITY — HCM City is setting up a rapid response team to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (nCoV), as requested by the Ministry of Health.

The HCM City team will provide support to doctors at lower-level hospitals.

The city's Health Department and Pasteur Institute will also conduct investigations, making a list of people who may have been in close contact with an infected person, and immediately report any signs of infections.

The Health Department will carry out surveillance of respiratory tract infections at health facilities and in communities for early detection of the disease, and send samples to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Pasteur Institute for testing.

Health facilities in the city must classify patients and screen them promptly to detect and, if necessary, take samples for tests.

They have also been asked to be on the alert for cases of acute respiratory infections with unknown causes, people with a travel history in nCoV-affected areas, and those in contact with nCoV-infected patients within the last 14 days.

All travellers entering the city from China must fill out a health declaration form.

The city’s healthcare sector has been told to arrange isolated areas and prepare enough human resources, medicine and medical equipment for treatment and emergencies.

Hospitals must implement strict measures to prevent cross-infection, including personal protective equipment used by medical staff in the workplace.

Li Ding, 66, and his son, Li Zichao, 28, from Wuhan, were admitted to Chợ Rẫy Hospital on January 22 and later tested positive for nCoV.

Nguyễn Tri Thức, director of the hospital, said that Li Zichao later tested negative for the virus on January 28. The father Li Ding is still receiving treatment at the hospital, he said.

The cases are being closely monitored, and additional results of tests will be announced soon. — VNS