Photo: Reuters

The Ministry of Health has urged all relevant agencies and people nationwide to stay vigilant in fighting the Covid-19 virus, adding that the fight can last longer than expected.  Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said this virus is highly infectious and hard to contain.

"April 10th saw Vietnam being acknowledged as one of 2 countries without Covid-19 deaths despite having critical cases. We should be proud about this but it’s difficult to tell anything for sure in this very complicated context. All health facilities are urged to stay on alert for the worst scenario in which the epidemic could spread across the country. Hospitals are advised to apply the four “on-the-spot” principles in combating the epidemic: on-the-spot prevention and treatment, on-the-spot facilities, on-the-spot funds, and on-the-spot personnel," said Mr. Long.

Associate Professor Luong Ngoc Khue, who is Head of the Health Ministry's Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, said the Health Ministry has ordered higher levels of preventing and controlling the epidemic as infection risks are very high in hospitals.  Accordingly, all people reveiving health check-ups at hospitals are considered F1 who could transfer the virus to others.

There has been no specific antiviral treatment or drugs recommended for the disease.