Decision No. 125/QD-BYT 2020 Guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19

DECISION

Promulgating the Guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of the acute pneumonia caused by new a strain of Coronavirus (nCoV)

          Pursuant to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2009;

          Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 75/2017/ND-CP dated June 20, 2017 prescribing the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

          At the request of the Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management – Ministry of Health,

DECIDES:

          Article 1. Issuing together with this Decision “The Guidance on diagnosis and treatment of the acute pneumonia caused by a new strain of Coronavirus (nCoV)”.

          Article 2. The Guidance on diagnosis and treatment of the acute pneumonia caused by a new strain of Coronavirus (nCoV) shall be applicable to all public and private medical examination and treatment establishments nationwide.

          Article 3. This Decision shall take effect on the date of signing and issuance.

          Article 4. The Chief of Ministry office, the Director of the Department of the Medical examination and treatment management – Ministry of Health; Directors of General departments, Departments under the Ministry of Health; Directors of Hospitals and Institutes under the Ministry of Health; Directors of municipal and provincial Departments of Health; Heads in charge of Healthcare of sectors shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

          For the Minister

          The Deputy Minister

          Nguyen Truong Son

GUIDANCE

On the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by a new strain of Coronavirus (nCoV)

(Issued together with the Decision No. 125/QD-BYT dated January 16, 2020 of the Minister of Health)

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses ranging from common cold to more severe diseases threatening human lives, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) in 2002, and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) in 2012. However, since December 2019, a new strain of Coronavirus causing pneumonia in Wu Han (China) has been detected and likely to be fast-spreading.

People contracting shall have the following symptoms: coughing, breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, it can lead to acute respiratory failure and even death, especially in patients with chronic illnesses or immunodeficiency.

Now, there is no specific treatment and vaccine for this disease yet.

I. DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTIONS CAUSED BY A NEW STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS

1. Suspected case:

Suspected cases shall include the following cases:

1.1. Having fever and pneumonia, or interstitial pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), based on clinical findings or X-ray images showing different levels of lung injury which infection or other causes cannot explain. This includes all cases with clinical indication to test community-acquired pneumonia.

And: Living or travelling to areas where there are diseases caused by the new strain of Coronaviruses within 14 days prior to the symptom onset.

          - Being in contact (within the incubation period of 14 days) with patients who contract unexplained fever and severe acute respiratory infection arising within 14 days after travelling to nCoV-affected areas.

          1.2. Having fever and symptoms of lung diseases (cough, breathing difficulties, etc.)

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