The Covid-19 epidemic began breaking out in Vietnam in early 2020 with the first case recorded on January 23. Along with the whole nation, Long An has taken active steps to prepare for the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic with isolation areas and hospitals for treating Covid-19 patients. By the 4th outbreak, Long An was one of four provinces and city (including Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai) that were heavily affected by the pandemic. The first community case was officially recorded on April 27, after more than 4 months of fighting against the epidemic, with great efforts and determination, Long An has controlled the epidemic so far, the number of Covid-19 cases has been controlled and decreased day by day, the whole province has entered a "new normal" state and is moving towards to comprehensively implementing socio-economic recovery, bringing peaceful life to the people.

The preparations for fighting against the epidemic

Since the first cases of Covid-19 appeared in the world and in the nation, Long An has made sure and thorough preparations for the fight against the epidemic. The province established a Steering Committee for preventing and controlling dangerous epidemics on humans led by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee who was as the Head of the Steering Committee; This Steering Committee was also established at district and commune level. The whole political system was in a spirit of urgency, was ready to act immediately, corresponding to each epidemic situation according to prepared scenarios so as it was not passive or unexpected.

Provincial leaders survey locations to establish the concentrated isolation areas and field hospitals

At this time, although no Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the community, the province urgently prepares the concentrated isolation areas and field hospitals, and conducts to implement treatment facilities for Covid-19 patients. At that time, most of the cases recorded in Long An province were experts and people entering from abroad. These cases were all isolated in hotels, concentrated isolation areas and treated at hospitals in the province, the risk of community transmission is almost non-existent.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Nguyen Van Ut directly inspects the epidemic prevention and control in the border area

In addition to the domestic epidemic prevention, the province especially strengthens the fight against epidemics from the border areas because of the unexpected epidemic risk from illegal entry and exit.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Pham Tan Hoa (2nd, R) visits and encourages border guards and officers

With more than 133 kilometers of borderline with Cambodia, Long An has more than 40 checkpoints, border guards and officers work day and night to patrol, control and resolutely prevent illegal entry, bringing the epidemic risk inland.

Urgently dealing with covid cases in the community

After a period of efforts to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic from entering the province, however, because Long An is located in the southern key economic region, it is adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City - the major economic - political center of the nation, and the gateway to the West of the nation, the level of trade exchange in economy, culture and society is very tight; Every day, many turns of people and vehicles pass by, this main reason led to the first positive case of SARS-CoV-2 in the community in the province in Hamlet 4, Long Hau Commune, Can Giuoc District on May 27.

The Steering Committee holds an emergency meeting on the first case of Covid-19 in the community in the province overnight

After that, the province in turn recorded Covid-19 cases in Tan An City, Tan Thanh and Can Duoc districts. Immediately, epidemic response scenarios were quickly activated with urgent measures of isolation, tracing, zoning, stamping out the epidemic and preventing the risk of further spreading the epidemic in the community.

The rapid response team immediately investigates and traces people contacting with the first Covid-19 patient in the province (hamlet 4, Long Hau commune, Can Giuoc district)

And at this moment, the whole political system has entered into full of efforts, determination and responsibility in the tough battle ahead.

Concentrating all efforts on anti-epidemic work

Regardless of day and night, the Steering Committee for preventing and controlling dangerous epidemics on human of Long An province also continuously organized urgent meetings with localities to have drastic and timely direction in order to control and control the epidemic as soon as possible. Long An urgently established the checkpoints for Covid-19 prevention and control 24-hour again at locations bordering provinces and cities.

The checkpoints for Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control operating 24-hour at locations bordering provinces and cities have been established

At the same time, the Provincial People's Committee directed the districts of Duc Hoa, Ben Luc, Can Duoc, Can Giuoc and Tan An city to apply measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic in accordance with Directive 15/CT-TTg dated March 27, 2020 of the PM from 0:00 on June 2, 2021.

The districts of Duc Hoa, Ben Luc, Can Duoc, Can Giuoc and Tan An city apply measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic according to Directive 15/CT-TTg

It can be seen that Covid-19 infectious cases in the province are mostly concentrated in key localities - identified by the province as a "red zones" including districts of Can Giuoc, Can Duoc, Ben Luc, Duc Hoa and Tan An City. These are densely populated areas, especially workers and employees working in industrial parks and clusters. Other localities also recorded cases scatteringly, not much compared to these "red zones".

The number of cases increased continuously, requiring stricter measures in the fight against the epidemic, the People's Committee of Long An province issued Official Letter No. 6434/UBND-VHXH on applying measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic in the province in the new normal state. Accordingly, the districts of Duc Hoa, Ben Luc, Can Duoc, Can Giuoc and Tan An City apply social distancing measures according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTg of the PM from 0 o'clock on July 08, 2021.

The number of cases increased continuously, requiring stronger measures in the fight against the epidemic in the districts of Duc Hoa, Ben Luc, Can Duoc, Can Giuoc and Tan An city applied measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic according to Directive 16/CT-TTg from 0:00 o'clock on July 8, 2021

Actively fighting the epidemic in the enterprises

Also at this time, cases F0 appeared more and more in enterprises both inside and outside industrial parks and clusters. This is a danger of outbreaks in the community, especially in workers’ inns.

Community Covid teams promote their role in epidemic prevention and control

Therefore, only a few days after Official Letter 6434/UBND-VHXH, Long An People's Committee issued Official Letter No. 6619/UBND-VHXH on ensuring safety for epidemic prevention and control for production at enterprises in the province. Accordingly, the province suspended the operation of enterprises that do not perform "3-on -site" measures from July 13, 2021. This was a very difficult decision when the province had to sacrifice economic benefits. However, this decision was completely appropriate and correct, all for the people's health and lives.

Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee - Nguyen Van Duoc directly checks the implementation of "3-on -site" measures at the enterprise

After more than one month and a half since the first Covid-19 case was detected in the community, by mid-July 2021, the number of cases has exceeded 1,000 cases. Secretary of the Long An Provincial Party Committee - Nguyen Van Duoc has called for the entire Party, people and army of Long An to unite and work together to repel the Covid-19 epidemic.

With the determination to both prevent, fight the epidemic and make efforts not to disrupt the supply chain, Long An actively implemented the "3-on-site" measures including "on-site production, on-site dining and on-site rest" so that the enterprises developed and implemented plans to be able to both fight the epidemic and maintain production.

By the end of August 2021, the province had nearly 800 enterprises, with over 44,000 employees, implementing the "3-on-site" measures. This means that these enterprises could still maintain their operations and ensure epidemic prevention and control at enterprises and communities even in the midst of the complicated epidemic development.

Supporting from the Ministry of Health, the military force and the neighbouring provinces

During the difficult Covid-19period, in addition to maximizing internal resources, Long An also received the attention, support and close guidance of leaders as well as central ministries and branches. Continuously, the special working groups of the Government were present timely to lead and direct the Steering Committees at all levels of the province, to have correct, timely and effective anti-epidemic strategies.

Healthcare officials of Bac Giang province support Long An to fight against the epidemic

In addition, Long An was understood, sympathized and shared with the epidemic prevention and control, the province received active support from the Working Group of the Ministry of Health, forces from the Ministry of National Defense and other provinces and cities (Ben Tre, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen) to provide aid and timely support Long An to fight against the epidemic.

Thai Nguyen medical staff takes care of Covid-19 patients at the Covid-19 Intensive Care Center under Thai Nguyen Central Hospital in Long An

This team has greatly contributed to Long An in the fight against the epidemic, especially in the situation of limited human resources. The supported medical staff quickly integrated and coordinated with local forces to participate in taking samples, testing, tracing, controlling infection and treating for Covid-19 patients and injecting vaccination.

Deploying 3 frontal attacks: testing, vaccination and social distancing

On August 18, 2021, the Standing Committee of Long An Party Committee issued a Decision to establish a Steering Committee, Command Department and sub-committees for Covid-19 prevention and control in the province (referred to as Decision 332) by the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council - Nguyen Van Duoc as the Head of the Steering Committee; Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee - Nguyen Thanh Hai was the Deputy Head of the Steering Committee; Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Nguyen Van Ut was the Deputy Head of the Steering Committee, the Commander of the Commanding Department for Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control.

With an unprecedented "fight", through day-by-day work and experience, Long An started to go in the right direction when it simultaneously deployed 3 "frontal attacks" including testing, screening in the community; injecting vaccine and implementing social distancing.

Long An implemented social distancing according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020 of the PM from July 19, 2021 throughout the province. It was recognized that the epidemic situation is still complicated and unpredictable, the province has repeatedly extended the time and tightened the implementation of social distancing. During this time, functional forces were on duty 24-hour at checkpoints to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic, ensuring that people stay at home and only go out when absolutely necessary. The forces of volunteers, unions, and sponsors joined hands to implement the model of "going to the market for households", providing food, foodstuffs and essential necessities to each alley, hamlet and family for people.

Volunteers provide food, foodstuffs and essential necessities to the people

Taking advantage of this time, the province focused on testing in the community, screening in large scale, determining to separate cases F0 from the community, zoning, isolating and immediately blocking epidemic areas to prevent the epidemic from spreading.

Vaccination work was also a prominent highlight of Long An when the province quickly and aggressively injected immediately after receiving the vaccine distributed by the Ministry of Health. As of October 12, 2021, in the whole province, 100 percent of people over 18 years old injected the 1st shot of Covid-19 vaccine and nearly 62 percent were injected the 2nd shot.

Among 8 provinces and cities with vaccination rates over 90 percent of the nation, Long An and Ho Chi Minh City are the two localities with the highest coverage of shot 2, Long An also leads the Mekong River Delta region about vaccination rates

In addition, Long An has made efforts in the treatment of Covid-19 patients right from the time it was discovered, synchronously implementing many solutions to improve treatment efficiency, the number of patients discharged from the hospital is increasing and decreasing the mortality rate due to Covid-19.

The number of treated Covid-19 patients leaving from hospital is increasing
 Together with the three frontal attacks, the province also promptly deployed the Provincial People's Committee issued guiding documents to promptly implement in the spirit of publicity and transparency. According to a report of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, up to October 8, 2021, Long An has supported nearly 436,000 people from different groups of people with a total budget of nearly 358 billion VND, of which support directly supported nearly 138,000 people with an amount of nearly 245 billion VND.

Decreasing infectious cases -  Entering into a new normal

In each phase of the anti-epidemic experience, with the right and timely strategy and drastic measures from the initial few cases in the community to the top of the epidemic in mid-August 2021, the number of cases sometimes reached more than 900 cases per day.

At the beginning of September 2021, when the epidemic began to "cool down", the province also eased social distancing to Directive 15/CT-TTg in "green zone" districts. The number of cases recorded in the province continued to decrease markedly day by day. From 0 o'clock on September 21, 2021, Long An implemented Directive No. 15/CT-TTg across the province according to Official Letter 9229/ UBND-VHXH, September 20, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee.

The province creates all conditions so that all enterprises in the area can produce normally and resume production

Since October 1, the province has started to create all conditions so that all businesses in the area can produce normally as before, of which it is worth noting that there is no longer a limit on the number of workers or transporting activities. Thereby, as of October 12, more than 5,860 out of 13,483 enterprises have resumed operations (accounting for about 43.5 percent of the total number of enterprises registered to operate in the province).

With the motto "considering the difficulties of enterprises as well as the difficulties of the province", it is hoped that the attention, companionship and facilitation of Long An province, along with the epidemic situation will be basically controlled in next November. In the future, the number of re-operated enterprises will continue to increase, contributing to creating jobs for local workers with more than 80 percent of workers expected to participate in production under the new normal state, towards to restoring the economy - society of the province, after the past Covid-19 pandemic.

Provincial leaders strengthen dialogue and are ready to share difficulties with enterprises 

Up to now, Long An's Covid-19 map has been completely green since October 8, Long An is entering a new normal state. Looking back on the past journey, the whole political system and the people of Long An can be proud of the achievements in the arduous and challenging anti-epidemic work.

In the fight with that invisible but extremely dangerous enemy, there were so many losses, sacrifices, drops of sweat and tears, there were also happy smiles and faith in a bright future when the epidemic is repelled.

Up to now, Long An's strategies and directions have shown correctness and timeliness, as evidenced by the marked reduction in the number of cases, and the people's life gradually returning to the previous life. These achievements further strengthen the trust in the people and business community with the timely guidelines and policies of Long An.

 
Long An's Covid-19 map is completely green, Long An is entering a new normal state

The fight against the epidemic has not ended, both the political system and the people are not subjective, "sleep" on the victory, Long An has learned valuable lessons and is always alert to the risk of the existing epidemic. It turns challenges and difficulties into opportunities, Long An is taking cautious steps to restore the economy and society. It is believed that the "loyal and resilient" homeland will quickly recover after the pandemic, be ready to progress in the next stages of development./.

By Staff – Translated by Duc Tam 

Source: https://baolongan.vn/long-an-quyet-tam-giu-vung-thanh-qua-chong-dich-a123474.html