How is Covid-19 isolation different now than before?

Hospitals have arranged separate areas to care for COVID-19 patients (illustrative photo)

Recently, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health has issued an official dispatch requesting hospitals to prepare isolation areas ready for Covid-19 patients. So is isolation in the current context different from the time of the outbreak? Because since October 2023, the Ministry of Health has issued a decision to adjust Covid-19 acute respiratory infection from group A infectious disease to group B infectious disease under the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2007.

Quarantine of COVID-19 patients is not too strict

According to Dr. Nguyen Dang Khiem, Head of the Emergency Department, Friendship Hospital, the recent increase in COVID-19 cases is a predictable phenomenon, especially as summer approaches.

"Summer is the time when respiratory viruses tend to increase, like the flu. In addition, the demand for travel and crowded activities also increases sharply, leading to a higher risk of spreading," said Dr. Khiem.

However, he affirmed that the possibility of a large epidemic is not high. At present, the number of cases only reflects the return of the virus, there is no sign of a widespread outbreak. For healthy people who have been fully vaccinated, if they get Covid-19, the symptoms are usually mild, similar to seasonal flu.

"The subjects that need special attention are the elderly, people with underlying diseases or immunodeficiency. These are the groups that are susceptible to serious complications if infected," Dr. Khiem emphasized.

According to Dr. Khiem, currently, isolation is mainly carried out in medical facilities to protect patients with underlying diseases, and is no longer widely applied as during the peak period in 2021.

“We have arranged a separate area to take care of Covid-19 patients, but the quarantine conditions are no longer as strict as before,” Dr. Khiem shared.

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Thai, Deputy Head of the Infectious Disease Emergency Department, Center for Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, said that viral diseases, especially those transmitted through the respiratory tract, often progress in "waves" of ups and downs.

As the virus spreads through a community, cases spike. After a while, as more people become infected and develop immunity, cases decline. But as immunity wanes or the virus mutates, a new “wave” can emerge.

If epidemiological surveillance is carried out closely, fully and continuously, for example, through regular Covid-19 testing at all central and local hospitals, we will have a more comprehensive and accurate view of the epidemic's fluctuations.

However, since Covid-19 was downgraded to group B (meaning it is no longer classified as extremely dangerous), surveillance is no longer as strict as before. Therefore, according to Dr. Thai, the current number of cases only reflects part of the reality.

"Covid-19 is currently an endemic disease, meaning it always exists sporadically in the community, and people can get infected at any time, from mild to severe. This is no longer a new outbreak or pandemic," said Dr. Thai.

No centralized isolation of patients like in a pandemic

A representative of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management said that "preparing quarantine areas" is not to isolate patients in a centralized manner like during a pandemic.

Accordingly, hospitals only prepare isolation areas within the hospital (possibly 1-2 rooms depending on the number of patients) to receive and treat Covid-19 patients.

This is to control infection for seriously ill patients, especially surgical patients and people with underlying diseases.

Home quarantine, 2021

According to current regulations on medical examination and treatment, patients with viral infectious diseases and respiratory diseases when treated at the hospital must be hospitalized in the infectious disease department to avoid cross-infection to other patients.

“For example, group B infectious diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, chickenpox, measles, etc. are all recommended to be quarantined to avoid community transmission. For Covid-19, quarantine at medical facilities is similar,” the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management explained.

People should not be subjective about COVID-19

However, according to Dr. Nguyen Quoc Thai, Deputy Head of the Infectious Disease Emergency Department, people should still maintain disease prevention awareness because pathogens are always present, if not Covid-19, then it is influenza virus, adenovirus or other respiratory diseases.

Regarding the issue of isolation, Dr. Thai said that the principles of preventing respiratory diseases are the same, but the current approach has changed a lot compared to the period when Covid-19 was still classified as group A.

Previously, quarantine requirements were strict, with people advised to wear N95 masks and keep a distance of 2 meters. Now, with Covid-19 being treated like seasonal flu or measles, basic protective measures such as wearing a regular medical mask and keeping a reasonable distance are enough.

Both experts said that people should not panic or worry too much about the slight increase in cases. Being vigilant, maintaining personal hygiene, and wearing masks in crowded places or when experiencing respiratory symptoms are still necessary, but they must be based on correct understanding, not panic.

HA (according to VOV)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/cach-ly-ca-mac-covid-19-hien-nay-khac-gi-so-voi-truoc-day-412239.html