Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has recently requested hospitals nationwide to strengthen measures to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, control people entering and leaving the hospitals, increase online transactions, and prepare solutions for situations of widespread infection, VnExpress reported.

The request was made after Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi confirmed 16 Covid-19 patients as of March 28.

Bach Mai Hospital is an epicenter in Hanoi city

The ministry said that some referral hospitals and hospitals in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city have to enhance infection prevention and perform large-scale screening tests if necessary.

Hospitals are requested to screen and thoroughly stream people visiting for medical examination and treatment, and increase online appointments. Meetings should be held online and doctors can apply remote diagnosis, the Ministry of Health asked.

Hospitals are required to reduce the number of inpatients.

Each hospital needs to prepare a human resource plan for a minimum of three months in case wider infection would require medical isolation for a group of health workers.

Hospitals must ensure stock of drugs and consumables, provide adequate protective equipment for health workers, enhance expertise and Covid-19 treatment training for medical staff at all levels.

The health ministry also requested localities to upgrade Covid-19 testing facility to ensure better testing capacity.

As of March 30, Vietnam has reported 194 Covid-19 infection cases in 24 cities and provinces, of them 55 have been cured and discharged from hospital.