In parallel with stamping out infection clusters within Da Nang, local functional forces are speeding up the conduction of rapid antigen tests for all people entering the city via checkpoints set up at the city’s gateways in a great effort to detect and prevent more infections from penetrating into the city.

A medical staffer on duty at a checkpoint on Tran Dai Nghia Street, Ngu Hanh Son district take samples from a driver for rapid antigen testing.

Over the past 20 days, rapid antigen tests have been carried out on all arrivals in Da Nang who are all drivers, their assistants and other road users right at its gateways. Simply put, arrivals are allowed to enter Da Nang only after receiving negative test results. However, anyone who are en route passing by the city is not subject to the test.

Currently, this testing method is applied at checkpoints on sections of national highway 1A in Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District and Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District, Hai Van southern bypass in Hoa Vang District, Tran Dai Nghia Street and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Road in Ngu Hanh Son District.

Such a rapid antigen test can provide results in 20 - 30 minutes. A positive test result announced at the checkpoints must be then transferred to an eligible medical centre for a final confirmation through another test via the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.

As observed on September 7, at the checkpoints, regardless the heavy workload and the rainy weather, the inter-sectoral force still strictly monitored all arrivals, asking them to have their body temperature measures, make medical declarations, present relevant travel papers, and have their nasal swab samples for rapid antigen testing before circulating into the city.

According to the municipal Department of Health, from 1:00pm on September 6 to 1:00pm on September 7, the forces on duty at the 5 aforementioned checkpoints carried out rapid antigen tests on for a total of 2,816 arrivals in the city, thereby detecting 14 positive cases.

Traffic police on duty at a checkpoint on Tran Dai Nghia Street check a truck driver's travel pass.

Traffic police on duty at a checkpoint on Tran Dai Nghia Street guides vehicles into the parking bay so that drivers have their swab samples taken for rapid antigen testing.

Here is an area where all arrivals in the city make medical declarations and have their swab samples taken for rapid antigen testing.

Despite the rain, the force on duty at a gateway checkpoint on National Highway 1A in Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District) still diligently fulfil their assigned tasks.

After parking their vehicles, drivers are subject to the sample collection for rapid antigen testing.

Medical staff from the Hoa Vang District Medical Centre conduct the sampling for rapid antigen testing for drivers entering the city via a checkpoint on a section of National Highway 14B in Hoa Nhon Commune.

The force on duty at a checkpoint on National Highway 14B in Hoa Nhon Commune always do their best to fulfill their assigned tasks with a high level of responsibility.

A medical staffer performs the manipulation of patient samples into the antigen rapid test kit. Drivers are instructed to keep a safe distance from others whilst waiting for test results.

A medical worker on duty at a gateway checkpoint on Ta Quang Buu Street, Lien Chieu District check the rapid test results.

Drivers are instructed to keep a safe distance from others whilst waiting for test results.

Upon the reception of negative test results, the completion of medical declarations and the showing of relevant documents, vehicle drivers will be granted with a travel pass to enter the city. A driver is seen recording his personal information, declaring travel schedules and making written commitments to strictly complying with mandatory COVID-19 prevention and control measures when entering the city.

Reporting by LE HUNG - Translating by A.T