A medical worker takes a sample of a man in northern Bắc Ninh Province's Thuận Thành District for COVID-19 testing after the province discovers more new cases of COVID-19. —  VNA/VNS Photo

 HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health has sent an official dispatch to chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees, directors of provincial and municipal Departments of Health and heads of medical facilities nationwide, asking them to raise the alert against the COVID-19 pandemic to the highest level and actively conduct COVID-19 testing at hospitals.

The document highlights the current serious developments of the pandemic, with outbreaks seen in many provinces and cities nationwide as well as patients and medical workers in some hospitals infected with the coronavirus, including its British and Indian variants with “super transmissibility”.  

The ministry ordered the strict implementation of the directions on COVID-19 prevention and control issued by the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

With the alert raised to the highest level, plans to cope with any infections detected in hospitals must be in place, says the dispatch.

Localities detecting domestically-transmitted COVID-19 cases should conduct testing for all medical workers, patients, and their long-time caregivers.

By the afternoon of May 7, nine hospitals have been applying medical quarantine after detecting COVID-19 infections within their treatment wards. — VNS