HCMC – HCMC’s healthcare sector has prepared medical equipment and facilities for Covid-19 treatment as a new highly transmissible Omicron subvariant known as XBB has been detected in the city.

The above information was given yesterday, January 11, by the HCMC Department of Health, expressing concerns over a possible outbreak of Covid-19 due to the rising travel demand before and during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

The city, therefore, has prepared 10,000 beds for Covid-19 treatment, including 1,000 beds for recovery cases. The city is also ready to re-activate Field Hospital No. 13 within 24 hours when case numbers surge.

Besides, all general and specialized hospitals will receive and give medical treatment to Covid-19 patients.

The HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases will take charge of cases in serious condition.

The Department of Health requested all hospitals and the HCMC Centre for Disease Control and medical centers of all districts and Thu Duc City to ensure the round-the-clock availability of health workers for emergency cases.

The city will strengthen pandemic prevention and control measures at border gates and seaports. The HCMC Centre for Disease Control will have to set up thermal scanners at Tan Son Nhat airport to monitor the temperatures of arriving passengers.

As Covid-19 vaccines are effective at preventing serious illness and death, the city will continue providing vaccinations throughout the Lunar New Year holiday.

Events organizers are also requested to make wash basins and hand sanitizers available for revelers and strictly comply with mask-wearing, hand-washing and other pandemic prevention protocols.

According to Nguyen Luong Tam, vice director of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, the subvariant is quickly spreading, so the city’s healthcare sector and residents must stay alert.