Authorities are urging those who experience a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, soreness, fatigue, chills, and reduction or loss of senses of taste and smell to visit medical facilities to have their sample collected and receive prompt treatment.

Hotlines of the provincial Department of Health and Centre for Disease Control have been publicised.

Nguyen Thi Nhung in Yen Ninh ward of Yen Bai city said that as her neighbourhood records a large number of COVID-19 cases, her family frequently takes COVID-19 rapid antigen test. The family will seek consultation from the ward’s health clinic when a member develops symptoms.

As COVID-19 patients surge, Yen Bai has rolled out a system on health monitoring for COVID-19 patients under home treatment at https://chamsocsuckhoe.yenbai.gov.vn.

Director of a digital transformation centre of Yen Bai Nguyen Duy Khiem said the implementation of a pilot programme on health monitoring for COVID-19 patients under home treatment has an important role to play as the province saw spike of infections in recent days, benefitting both people and medical workers.  

The system has to be easy-to-use, convenient and user-friendly. People are asked to comply with guidance of health workers and access accurate and up-to-date information provided through the software, Khiem added.

Deputy Director of the provincial Health Department Nguyen Van Ha said most of the COVID-19 patients exhibit no symptoms and receive home treatment under the supervision of health workers and COVID-19 treatment groups in community. The others will be sent to medical facilities.

Patients with severe symptoms will receive treatment at the Lung Hospital, the General Hospital in Nghia Lo, the provincial General Hospital, and eight health centres of districts, towns and cities.

People are requested to strictly follow the 5K principle, the suspension of services facilities with high risks of infection and restrictions of people at eateries. Another important task in the COVID-19 fight is the acceleration of the vaccination against the disease.

To date, almost all the children aged 12-18 in the province have received at least one dose of vaccine and 96 percent, twos. Nearly all the adults received two jabs, and 91.6 percent of the population were inoculated with the third dose.

High vaccination rate helped minimise severe cases and avoid overloading at medical facilities, paving the way for Yen Bai to soon bring COVID-19 under control despite a surge of infections.