Consider declaring the COVID-19 pandemic over.

Người Lao Động•20/06/2023

Accordingly, agreeing with the Ministry of Health's proposal to adjust COVID-19 from group A to group B, the Steering Committee requested the Ministry of Health to adjust the disease group within its authority; and to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice to consider and declare the end of the epidemic according to regulations.

The Ministry of Health instructs ministries, sectors, and localities to review and proactively implement or propose to competent authorities the amendment or repeal of regulations related to epidemic prevention and control; finalize the plan for sustainable control and management of COVID-19 for the period 2023-2025; and prepare the necessary conditions to respond to potential pandemics and the potential resurgence of COVID-19. Simultaneously, they are to research and implement COVID-19 vaccination programs appropriate to the situation and administer them annually within the National Expanded Immunization Program; in cases exceeding their authority, they should report to the Prime Minister for consideration.

Thus, after nearly three years of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, people's lives have returned to normal. The widespread COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Vietnam has contributed to halting the spread of the pandemic. Health experts believe that the upcoming reclassification of COVID-19 from a Group A to a Group B infectious disease is a significant milestone in Vietnam's nearly three-year response to the pandemic.

Xem xét công bố hết dịch COVID-19 - Ảnh 1.

After COVID-19 was reclassified from a Group A to a Group B infectious disease, professional guidelines on surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and infection control need to be revised. (Photo: DIEU THU)

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong stated that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, is advising the Prime Minister on a decision regarding the reclassification of COVID-19 from a Group A to a Group B infectious disease. The Ministry of Health is also coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to revise professional guidelines on surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and infection prevention. Once a decision is made to reclassify COVID-19 from a Group A to a Group B infectious disease, these guidelines will be issued simultaneously.

Regarding the control of COVID-19 as the country moves to Group B, Mr. Phan Trong Lan, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine - Ministry of Health, said that the Ministry of Health will strengthen the deployment of key surveillance points; continue gene sequencing and monitoring of severe pneumonia cases, critical cases, and outbreaks with unusual developments at medical facilities and in the community. Along with that, it will ensure the capacity for emergency care and intensive care at medical facilities; and continue the COVID-19 vaccination program. The Ministry of Health also requested localities to review the epidemic situation, focusing on ensuring effective and sustainable control of COVID-19 alongside the management of other infectious diseases.

Associate Professor Tran Dac Phu, Senior Advisor to the Vietnam Center for Emergency Response to Public Health Events, believes that the reclassification of COVID-19 from a Group A to a Group B infectious disease is reasonable. However, this does not mean we should be complacent, negligent, or lose vigilance... because the disease could re-emerge at any time. The most important thing is to continue implementing COVID-19 vaccination coverage and investing in disease prevention and control.

COVID-19 treatment is no longer free.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong stated that when COVID-19 is reclassified from a Group A to a Group B infectious disease, the treatment protocol will remain unchanged, but there will be differences in treatment cost reimbursement. Specifically, for Group A infectious diseases, people will receive free treatment at public health facilities, while for Group B diseases, patients with health insurance cards will have their treatment costs reimbursed according to regulations.

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