Strengthening the prevention of COVID-19 for elderly residents

The move was put forward in response to the development of COVID-19 across the country and worldwide.

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The People's Committees of provinces and cities are requested to urgently direct relevant agencies take specific measures to strengthen prevention of the COVID-19 epidemic for the elderly, people with underlying diseases and other high risk groups.

Localities are requested to count and strictly manage the health of the elderly, especially people with underlying medical conditions and other high-risk groups

Families of elderly people, people with underlying medical conditions and high-risk groups are recommended to minimise going out to public areas and contact with others. When experiencing health problems, they must immediately contact the commune health department, ward or family doctor.

They should visit medical facilities only in cases of real necessity or emergency, medical examination and treatment (out of drugs, dose adjustment required) and always use a mask and disinfect their hands when they go out.

The committee also suggested health facilities to provide medicine for treatment of chronic diseases for a longer time (at least two months) to the elderly, people with diseases and other high risk groups.

Localities are required to implement electronic medical declarations or electronic records, of which priority should be given to the declaration for people aged 60 and older and people with underlying medical conditions, non-communicable diseases or other high risk groups.

The elderly are Vietnamese citizens who are 60 years of age or older, according to the Law on the Elderly.

Source: VNA