The field hospital in HCM City’s Củ Chi District to quarantine people suspected to have contracted the coronavirus. — Photo medinet.hochiminhcity.gov.vn

HCM CITY— All three patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and were treated in HCM City hospitals have recovered fully and all 32 suspected cases in the city have tested negative as of Wednesday, according to the city Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention.

There are no new suspected cases of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, 28 people remain quarantined at a field hospital in Củ Chi District, which is adequately equipped and has doctors from the Hospital for Tropical Disease, Củ Chi District Hospital, Thủ Đức District Hospital, Từ Dũ Hospital, and children’s hospitals among others.

The doctors there have organised training courses for doctors and nurses of 10 general hospitals and seven district hospitals in preventing hospital-acquired infection of the disease.

Other hospitals such as the City International Hospital are ready to respond and quickly carry out disease prevention measures including by establishing an infection prevention and control team, carrying out a COVID-19 response drill, continuing medical education focused on the COVID-19 epidemic for latest updates, and communicating about the disease and providing disease screening at the main entrance of the hospital.

Ass. Prof. Dr Trần Quang Bính, deputy medical director of the City International Hospital, said: “The hospital has not yet received any suspected COVID-19 or COVID-19 patients.”

In compliance with the Ministry of Health’s direction, the City International Hospital quickly responded and set up a screening process for patients, staff and visitors right at the main entrance for temperature. — Photo Courtesy of the hospital

In compliance with the Ministry of Health’s direction, the hospital quickly responded and set up a screening process for patients, staff and visitors right at the main entrance for temperature, he said.

In case of suspicious symptoms, people are placed in a separate room to protect the others until they could be sent to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, he said.

Fifty four people have been quarantined in districts as of Wednesday.

All but one of the city’s 24 districts have set up quarantine zones while 104 people are being monitored at home.

For the 16 people in the country who have so far tested positive for COVID-19, 15 have recovered and been discharged. This includes a Vietnamese American who is in good health and can be expected to be discharged today, according to the Ministry of Health.

It said the epidemic has well contained so far.

The HCM City People’s Committee has sought the Government’s permission to keep schools closed until March end as a safety measure against COVID-19. They have remained closed for the last three weeks.

If approved, the second term will end in July, and the national high school graduation exam will be held at the end of July, a month later than usual.

Other diseases

Other diseases such as dengue fever have remained under control, the ministry said.

The incidence of dengue has reduced by 46 per cent compared to the same period of last year. Provinces like Quảng Bình, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi and Quảng Trị, which saw the highest incidence last year, have reported less cases in the last several weeks.

The incidence of hand-foot-mouth has fallen by 44 per cent from the same period last year.

The number of measles cases has fallen sharply.

However, the ministry has instructed centres for diseases control and prevention to strengthen preventive measures.

The public should also carry out preventive measures, it has said. — VNS