Amid the unprecedented Covid-19 outbreak with new variants of the virus, especially when 11 healthcare facilities have become epicenters and are temporarily isolated, Khanh Hoa Department of Health and hospitals in Khanh Hoa have urgently boosted pandemic prevention and control under the Government and Ministry of Health's instructions...
Amid the unprecedented Covid-19 outbreak with new variants of the virus, especially when 11 healthcare facilities have become epicenters and are temporarily isolated, Khanh Hoa Department of Health and hospitals in Khanh Hoa have urgently boosted pandemic prevention and control under the Government and Ministry of Health’s instructions.
Screening testing boosted
Recently, hospitals in Khanh Hoa have boosted patient screening, separation and visitor restrictions. Everyone who enters patient care facilities must wear face masks, use hand sanitizer, complete health declaration and undergo body temperature checks. There are more screening testing sites and Covid-19 prevention and control signs installed in all patient rooms.
During earlier pandemic waves, Khanh Hoa General Hospital organized 4 screening sites at 4 gates. At present, 3 screening sites are opened to arrivals. At the screening sites, all people are asked to wear face masks, use hand sanitizer and complete medical declaration before entering the hospital. To make sure physical distance, Covid-19 temperature screening is maintained all day and night. Besides, the hospital has installed an automatic body temperature check device and enabled health declaration QR scanning. Patients with suspected Covid-19 are transferred directly to the hospital isolation area. In inpatient wards, the 2nd screening testing is done with similar steps.
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As a frontline hospital against the pandemic, Khanh Hoa Hospital of Tropical Diseases has also enhanced patient screening. Apart from screening sites at the entrance, the hospital has established a respiratory clinic; and separated ways from this clinic to the isolation area. Other cases, after being screened at the gate, will be screened for the second time at the Departments of Polyclinic and Emergency.
At the Provincial Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Huynh Thi Tuyet Mai (Ninh Thuong Commune, Ninh Hoa town) said: "I have hepatitis B. The hospital receives and treats Covid-19 patents but I still feel safe to be here for medical examination because of its careful screening testing."
Various more pandemic measures
To prevent the disease spread from outside, all hospitals have maintained visitor restrictions. Each patient has only one designated caregiver. In intestine care wards, no patient visitation is allowed. Patient beds are arranged in safe distance and regularly disinfected. Periodical testing is for medical staff and random testing for severe patients who is at risk of Covid-19 infection.
Since the early start of the 4th wave of Covid-19, Khanh Hoa General Hospital has founded a temporary isolation area for those suspected with Covid-19 in the inpatient wards. SARS-CoV-2 screening tests are done for all medical staff, families and those in close contact with the suspected with Covid-19 and founded a private surgery ward for them.
The hospital has also updated and directed management and solutions adapting to the current situation of the Covid-19 epidemic to avoid the spread to the community; developed a contingency plan to ensure health care and treatment in case of a lockdown of one department/room or the entire hospital.
The hospital has built cooperation plans for optimizing treatment for Covid-19 patients, increase Covid-19 screening test for medical staff and high risk patients to once every 7 days instead of 14 days, according to Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Mai, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital.
Dr. Tran Nam Quan, Deputy Director of the Provincial Hospital for Tropical Diseases said, “during the 4th wave of Covid-19, there are cases affected with new variants of the Covid-19. All medical staff are asked to avoid large gatherings and remain inside the province; Covid-19 screening testing is done for medical staff and high risk patients. Physical staff providing care and treatment for Covid-19 patients must remain in the isolation area for medical staff for 14 days until the first and second testing shows negative results for the corona virus. Rooms for patients confirmed with Covid-19 are sanitized and disinfected by ultra-violet light as soon as they are discharged.
Khanh Hoa Department of Health has implemented the 2nd vaccination drive for all medical staff, nearly 5,000 people so far.
T.L
Translated by N.T
