Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long at at an online meeting on Feb. 5. 

The information was announced by Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long at an online meeting with provinces and cities hit by Covid-19 pandemic on February 5.

The Minister said that during the ongoing outbreak, the virus characteristics have changed, so it is necessary to change the strategy for COVID-19 prevention and control, as follows.

First, due to demand for widespread testing in northern Quang Ninh and Hai Duong provinces, where the latest outbreak began, the Ministry of Health now permits the combination of 10 - 15 samples collected from the same families in one test, instead of five samples previously.

"If the combined sample is found positive, the whole family will be isolated, then will take the sample again to test each person to classify F0, F1 cases," he said.

Around 30,000 households in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province need testing and this strategy can be applied right away.

The Ministry of Health has discussed very carefully with specialized agencies and asked all localities to apply this.

Second, change the isolation strategy. The Minister said that due to the rapid multiplication of viruses and the rapid spread of pathogens it is necessary to change the form of quarantine of children, so that children can enjoy Tet at home.

The Minister asked localities to classify children into two groups: under 5 years old - strict quarantine at home. Each child is accompanied by a healthy adult, on the condition that the family has no elderly person or person with no underlying conditions. Cam Giang District in Hai Duong province – an epidemic hotspot - is currently applying this quarantine form.

For children over 5 years old, in the first seven days, they are tested three times (day 1, 3, 7). If the tests are negative, they are allowed to be quarantined at home under the close control of the local authorities.

Third, releasing goods from epidemic zones. The Minister cited Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s order to not hamper economic activities in the COVID-19 fight, the provinces and cities with sufficient testing capacity can transport goods to other localities, but anti-COVID-19 measures must be applied for both goods and drivers.

Thuy Hanh

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