Authorities of the southern province of Kien Giang are seeking the Ministry of Health’s permission for building a field hospital due to the high risk of Covid-19 outbreak.
The proposal was made by Ha Van Phuc, director of Kien Giang’s Department of Health at an online meeting on Covid-19 prevention and control with the Ministry of Health.
According to Phuc, Vietnam’s south-western localities are facing a high risk of Covid-19 outbreak as they are near Cambodia and Thailand which are witnessing a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections.
Kien Giang has a total of 256 kilometres of borderline, including around 200 kilometres of sea. Every day, thousands of fishing boats from different countries operate along the border areas, which challenges the province’s control over the entry of people.
A Covid-19 checkpoint in An Giang
The province has arranged around 1,000 people for 112 Covid-19 checkpoints and 16 taskforces on land along with patrol groups on sea. However, the force remains modest against the rampant illegal entries of people from the neighbouring countries, Phuc noted
Since February 20, the province has seen a surge in illegal migrants from Cambodia.
Since March last year, roughly 6,000 people have been quarantined in An Giang, including up to 3,800 quarantined from February 20. Of 3,800 people, 36 have tested positive for Covid-19, while another eight are suspected to be infected.
The rate of Covid-19 infection among people entering Vietnam through An Giang is up to 4%.
All of Covid-19 cases in the province are being treated at Ha Tien District’s Healthcare Centre which has only 30 sick beds.
Phuc suggested building a field hospital for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. The hospital would be operated for 1-2 years when the pandemic is expected to be brought under control in Cambodia and Thailand.
Phuc said that Cambodia is being put under a two-week lockdown, so this is a suitable time to speed up the field hospital construction.
He also asked the Ministry of Health to prioritise Covid-19 vaccines as well as medical equipment for the province.
“The Ministry should review Covid-19 prevention and control in Hai Duong and other cities and provinces as a reference book for localities. The ministry should also send a delegation to south-western provinces for the support”, Phuc emphasised.