In recent days, the number of cases has continuously decreased, on March 25, on the National System of Covid-19 Case Management, 108,979 new infections were recorded in 62 provinces and cities. According to the Ministry of Health, the ministry is currently developing a strategy for the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic for the period 2022-2023, which contains important contents of research, assessment, and based on the epidemic situation to change prevention and control measures. Covid-19 epidemic from a group A infectious disease to a group B infectious disease.
Assoc. Prof, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, former director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, said that in order to bring Covid-19 from a group A infectious disease to a group B infectious disease, it must be based on the evolution of the epidemic.
First, Vietnam needs to consider whether the Covid-19 epidemic will still cause a strong outbreak, will there be any more mutations and show stability over the years and be predictable?
Second, is the situation of seriousness and death due to Covid-19 infection large, causing overload of the health system?
Third, must be based on the medical response ability, the effectiveness of the vaccine, drug treatment?
Fourth, will the Covid-19 epidemic affect the socio-economic and welfare of the people?
F0 is supported to bring to the hospital, illustration.
Assoc. Phu, if the epidemic is particularly fast spreading, and the patients are severely ill, are overloaded with medical response, and the ability to control the epidemic is still difficult, it will not be recognized as a group B infectious disease.
“We have to base from scientific evidence to practice to make a decision to switch to a group B infectious disease. Currently, WHO is also studying and considering a proposal to bring Covid-19 into an endemic disease.“, said Mr. Phu.
The scientific basis for a group A infectious disease to change to a group B and become a common disease is when the number of new cases and the number of severe cases stabilize. At that time, Covid-19 was not capable of causing a new epidemic wave, the mortality rate was not high. In addition, the health system must be very good to respond to the Covid-19 treatment situation.
Epidemiological response changes
Assoc. Response solutions are not as strict as group A anymore, such as no restriction on mass gatherings, no F0 management, no free treatment, no isolation…
Currently, Vietnam’s seasonal flu is still monitoring but not the whole monitoring, only key monitoring to calculate and assess the epidemic situation. With Covid-19, when moving from group A to group B, the state did not test on a large scale, did not count cases, but only estimated the number of cases a year for assessment.
According to current regulations, people with epidemic diseases of group A can be examined and treated for free. When Covid-19 is changed to a group B infectious disease, the payment and payment for medical examination and treatment will be the same as for other diseases, which may be covered by health insurance or by the people themselves. .
Therefore, when switching to group B, it is necessary to base on ensuring social security for people, especially the poor and vulnerable people.
“Because Covid-19 has so many specific and complicated characteristics, it is necessary to develop an appropriate policy to respond to the epidemic. When changing measures to respond to Covid-19 to a group B infectious disease, when it is found need to be concerned, the State should still have certain policies, for example, a policy on fees for medical examination and vaccination for the poor”. Mr. Phu said.
In addition, the policy on isolation and medical declaration must also change. People must be isolated, but not required to isolate the community like group A, but isolation is recommended. If Covid-19 is group B, people may not have to make a medical declaration anymore.
Mr. Phu said: “In my opinion, when researching to transfer Covid-19 to group B, it is necessary to establish research groups with the participation of ministries, sectors, levels, the Ministry of Health and a roadmap. Regarding the epidemic, sectors and levels must research together on policies. Research and policies need to be closely related to each locality because each province and city has different economic conditions and responses.”.
Facing the complexity of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Phu said that a number of group B infectious diseases still had to declare epidemics nationwide. With Covid-19 when moving to group B, it depends on the nature and extent of the epidemic to decide whether to announce the epidemic or not.
Doctor Nguyen Hong Ha, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Infectious Diseases, currently our country has a high vaccination rate, so the number of cases and the rate of serious illness requiring hospitalization is low, so it does not overload hospitals and the medical system. economic. But moving Covid-19 from a group A epidemic to a group B takes time.
“Currently, the world has not yet transitioned to the pandemic. Vietnam needs to continue to promote vaccination and protect the disadvantaged group. This group also needs early access to medical care, reducing severe and fatal rates. In terms of health effects, when transferring Covid-19 from group A to group B, many people will have a subjective mentality such as giving up wearing masks, contacting when it spreads quickly will be the most dangerous thing.” Doctor Ha said.
According to the Vice President of the Vietnam Infectious Diseases Association, it is still necessary to maintain appropriate measures to prevent and control the epidemic, in the best way. People still have to wear masks, sick people self-isolate at home to protect the community. Some other conditions that no longer make a lot of sense such as medical declarations may not uphold.
Currently, the current health system continues to strengthen to respond to treatment, with the aim of limiting hospitalizations, severe cases and deaths.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
