Thanh Hoa shares experience in containing COVID-19 with Lao province

The northern province of Thanh Hoa took the occasion to present neighbouring Lao province Huaphanh with medical supplies required for the COVID-19 fight. (Photo: VNA)

Thanh Hoa (VNA) – The northern province of Thanh Hoa and neighbouring Lao province Huaphanh exchanged experience in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in an event held at the Na Meo International Border Gate’s border station on April 13.

Thanh Hoa took the occasion to present the Lao province with medical supplies required for the fight, including ventilators, face masks and hand sanitiser, worth 1 billion VND (42,900 USD) in total.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Dang Quyen said the province has established a steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control and developed scenarios in response to different scales of infection, planning how to put infected cases into quarantine and zone off any outbreak cluster when it is small.

It has intensified communication campaigns to raise public awareness of preventive measures against the disease, such as wearing masks, properly washing hands and avoiding gatherings, and provided related training for local medical workers, he said.

The province has also set up monitoring groups at not only the provincial level but also in each village and street which are tasked to report on returnees from pandemic-hit areas and those in close contact with infected or suspected cases, the vice chairman added.

The COVID-19 outbreak is under control in Thanh Hoa, Quyen continued, the province has so far quarantined more than 10,100 people and provided coronavirus tests for 2,094 people over the last three months. Three infections have been confirmed, of which one was treated at the provincial general hospital and fully recovered while the others were transferred to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

He suggested the two provinces increase information sharing about the COVID-19 and enhance cooperation between their border districts to educate people on precautionary measures and prevent illegal entry and exit.

Huaphanh Vice Governor Phusone Thammavisay, for his part, thanked Thanh Hoa for sharing experience and presenting medical supplies to the Lao province. He asked the Vietnamese province to find ways for the two provinces to resume trade at the Na Meo International Border Gate and send medical experts to Huaphanh to assist its COVID-19 fight.

On the same day, Thanh Hoa’s police force also shared experience in COVID-19 control with their counterparts from Huaphanh and presented the Lao side with five disinfectant sprayers; 25kg of Chloramine-B, a disinfectant that can kill the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces; 20 protective suits; 1,000 masks and 100 bottles of hand sanitiser.

These activities have helped strengthen the special friendship and solidarity between the Vietnamese and Lao people./.