The Ministry of Health recommends 19 underlying health conditions with the highest risk of contracting Covid-19 along with 12 signs and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
On July 31, the Ministry of Health issued Decision 3646/QĐ-BYT approving the criteria for classifying the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Accordingly, confirmed cases (F0) are classified into four risk levels: low (green), moderate (yellow), high (orange), and very high (red).
SARS-CoV-2 Virus.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health has identified 19 underlying health conditions that have the highest risk of contracting Covid-19. Many of these conditions weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to viral attacks, leading to faster complications and even death.
- 1. Diabetes.
- 2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung diseases.
- 3. Cancer (especially hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and other metastatic cancers).
- 4. Chronic kidney disease.
- 5. Organ transplant or hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
- 6. Obesity and overweight.
- 7. Cardiovascular diseases (heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathy).
- 8. Cerebrovascular diseases.
- 9. Down syndrome.
- 10. HIV/AIDS.
- 11. Neurological conditions, including dementia.
- 12. Sickle cell disease.
- 13. Asthma.
- 14. Hypertension.
- 15. Immune deficiency.
- 16. Liver disease.
- 17. Substance use disorders.
- 18. Use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.
- 19. Systemic diseases.
The Ministry of Health also provided 12 signs and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which include cough; fever (over 37.5 degrees Celsius); headache; sore throat; runny or stuffy nose; shortness of breath; chest pain; body aches; loss of taste; loss of smell; abdominal pain; nausea; and diarrhea.
During an online conference on enhancing treatment and intensive care efforts against Covid-19 on August 2, Professor Nguyen Thanh Long, Minister of Health, emphasized that the outbreak is evolving rapidly, across a wide area, and within a short period, the number of cases is rising significantly. The outbreak is hitting key areas, making it very difficult to bring the number of infections down to zero. Therefore, localities must continue to determine and implement effective, strong, and sustainable epidemic prevention measures.
The Ministry of Health has established 12 National Intensive Care Centers, under the Ministry of Health, directly managed and assigned by the leadership of the Ministry and the Department of Health Examination and Treatment Management. These centers are the highest-level treatment facilities, responsible for receiving, treating, and performing the most complex intensive care techniques for severe and critical Covid-19 cases.
The Intensive Care Centers aim to establish a network of facilities for receiving and treating severe Covid-19 patients nationwide. Investments will be made to upgrade equipment and infrastructure for the Intensive Care Centers designated by the Ministry of Health to treat severe Covid-19 patients and the intensive care departments of hospitals across various levels.
