Da Nang is stepping up its efforts to enforce strict its infection prevention and control policies for Covid-19 due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic. Strict measures have been put in place at areas of Da Nang at most risk of coronavirus resurgence as traditional markets, quarantine facilities, and hospitals, in tandem with imposing administrate penalties on any breach in the city's social distancing rules.

Doctors of the Da Nang Lung Hospital monitoring the health of critically ill patients with Covid-19 through the camera system

These statements were released by Da Nang Party Committee Deputy Secretary Nguyen Van Quang at the Sunday meeting on responding to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Higher vigilance against deadly virus should be kept in place in the time ahead, Deputy Secretary Quang remarked. He also highlighted the importance of stepping up publicity efforts to raise public awareness about positive results from the treatment of Covid-19 patients, especially the health improvements of critically ill ones with complex comorbidities, in an attempt to strongly assure the general public amid coronavirus crisis.

The Da Nang Department of Health recently released guidances on the organisation of funerals during the coronavirus situation.

According to Director of the municipal Department of Health Ngo Thi Kim Yen, Viet Nam's national government’s guidelines clearly state that funerals are not permitted to be held in any areas under lockdown nationwide, and residents living here are not allowed to attend a funeral held anywhere. 

Bodies of deceased persons infected with coronavirus are required to be cremated as soon as possible, whilst those that are not linked to the virus must not be left for more than 48 hours of death.

The local health officials said that 38 areas across the city have been identified as Covid-19 hotspots till date. 

Local medical workers took swab samples from 13,000 residents across the city on 16 August, the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) announced.

Amid high concern over the possibility of F1 contacts still occurring in the community for the time being, the traceability of those having links with patients and their caretakers in the once-to-be-hotspot Da Nang General Hospital must be conducted quickly, municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Le Trung Chinh underlined.

In particular, functional local bodies will increase their inspections and impose administrative fines on those who are found leaving home under unnecessary circumstances during the city's social distancing period.  Such violations as gathering in groups and not wearing masks in public must be strictly handled.

Due to the large flow of shoppers, local traditional markets are identified as one of Da Nang's areas at most risk of coronavirus resurgence. Coping up with this looming risk, more precautionary measures will be put in place in these hotspots to contain the spread of the virus, with a focus on encouraging all market stall holders and market- goers to practise the city's physical distancing rules.

The taking of swab samples from stallholders and market-goers in some traditional markets across the city is currently underway.  Included are the markets of Tan An, Con, Dong Da, Hoa Cuong Wholesale, and the Tho Quang fishing wharf.

By PHAN CHUNG –Translated by A.T