Da Nang functional forces must carry out rapidly epidemiological investigations of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases to isolate sick patients and trace their close contacts in a timely manner, asked municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang, the city’s top leader whilst delivering instructions at a meeting held by the Da Nang Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Saturday afternoon.

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

Da Nang registered eight locally transmitted cases on Saturday, thus bringing the city’s total cases to 123 since May 3 when the first community infection was reported, said the latest report released by the municipal Department of Health.

Also on Saturday, 88 close contacts of COVID-19 cases were put under quarantine at the city’s designated medical facilities, bringing the total count of over 1,800 till date.

On the same day, functional local forces collected swab samples for COVID-19 testing from over 16,100 people across the city.

Secretary Quang said that the COVID- 19 pandemic is brought under control in Da Nang. However, the infection source of recently-registered locally transmitted cases still remain unknown. This threat can result in a risk of coronvirus spread.

“It is highly recommended that relevant agencies immediately implement relevant measures to investigate and trace contacts of COVID-19 cases in a prompt fashion”, demanded the municipal Party chief.

With regard to a number of high-risk settings across the city, Secretary Quang underlined an urgent need to focus on inspecting the strict practice of COVID-19 prevention rules at industrial parks.

Any enterprises are caught committing violations will have their operations suspended immediately.

Importance should be attached to promoting the important role of residential- quarter task forces tasking themselves with maintaining the regular monitoring of their target families here, and closely supervising their compliance with the compulsory measures against the spread of the virus.

Another important mission is to regularly monitor the health of local residents, especially in high-risk places linking to COVID-19 patients.

In particular, anyone who appears to have the most commonly reported signs and symptoms such as fever, cough, a sore throat, chest pain and shortness of breath, will be reported to local health authorities for early detecting suspected cases and taking their clinical specimens for COVID-19 testing, and promptly carrying out appropriate isolation and medical interventions as well.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by A.T