Delivering his instructions at a meeting held by the Da Nang Steering Board for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Tuesday, municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang, the city’ top leader, made an urgent appeal to all residents for their more active engagement in the tough combat against the deadly virus. Amidst more COVID-19 hotspots detected in recent days, those who identified themselves as direct and indirect contacts of COVID-19 patients should proactively and voluntarily make truthful declarations for COVID-19 testing and other appropriate medical interventions.

Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang (left) addressed a meeting on Tuesday held by the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Promoting the role of the general public in the fight against COVID-19 

The municipal Party chief affirmed that Da Nang has done well in coronavirus containment over the past times. He, however, pointed out to the fact that the virus threat is still looming large with new COVID-19 hotspots recently detected across the city.

For the time being, besides their strict compliance with the national and municipal-level governments –mandated regulations to curb the virus resurgence, all inhabitants, especially those who identified themselves as direct and indirect contacts of COVID-19 patients, should give true and accurate information to local health officials.

The public engagement plays a very important role in securing Da Nang’s effective control over this ongoing fourth wave of the virus, especially in the midst of a “decisive time” within which to prevent the further spread, said Secretary Quang. 

Addressing the Tuesday meeting, municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh demanded that the local healthcare sector continue raising the level of safety warnings in all citywide medical facilities.

In particular, pharmacies should encourage their customers who purchase medicine for the treatment of such health problems as fever, cough, and shortness of breath to contact medical facilities for the screening of coronavirus infection.

Effectively managing new COVID-19 hotspots in the city: urgent mission 

Medical workers collected a throat and nasal swab of all Da Nang International Airport staff member for COVID-19 testing on Tuesday morning. Photo: XUAN DUNG.

According to a report by the municipal Department of Health, Da Nang registered seven locally transmitted cases on May 11, thus bringing the city’s total count to 60 since May 3 when the first community infection was reported.

Of the 60 recorded COVID-19 cases, 53 were close contacts of the infected patients and put under quarantine, whilst the remaining ones were of unknown sources of infection in the community.

Till date, the local healthcare sector has labelled nine local residential settings as the so-called “self-quarantine zones” and imposed entry restrictions on 29 other places. Noticeable amongst these sites was a neighbourhood on An Thuong No 32 Street, My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District where three residents were tested positive for the virus.

As of May 11, the city had recorded 44 COVID-19 hotspots, including Da Nang Industrial Park and the Toxic shop linked to New Phuong Dong Bar and the AMIDA international beauty salon.

In addition, the collection of swab samples for COVID-19 testing from those attending a wedding party at the Phi Lu No. 3 Restaurant, September 2 Street, Hai Chau District at 5:30pm on May 1 is still progressing.

Doctor Ngo Thi Kim Yen, Director of the municipal Department of Health said the number of close contacts of recently-confirmed COVID-19 patients is expected to be on rise in the coming days. Therefore, competent forces must speed up the tracing of contacts of COVID-19 patients in a bid to stop transmission.

She affirmed, the acceleration of contact tracing, testing and isolating those living in high-risk settings is of paramount importance in this “decisive point” of this tough fight.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG- Translating by A.T