On Friday afternoon, Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho chaired an emergency meeting on prevention and control of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Medical workers at a special isolated area at the Da Nang General Hospital for suspected patients

The city leader urged relevant agencies to quickly report their measures to prevent and control the Wuhan coronavirus in Da Nang.

In her remarks at the meeting, Director of the municipal Department of Health Ngo Thi Kim Yen said, under the direction of the Ministry of Health, since 3 January, all staff members of the city's health sector have maintained readiness to control and prevent the mysterious pneumonia.

She added quarantine officers are on duty at the Da Nang International Airport and border gates around the clock in order to check passengers' temperatures as they arrive in the city.

Keeping careful watch for epidemics with body temperature measurement

Director Yen noted the Da Nang General Hospital has been providing medical treatment to 21 suspected patients. They are 16 Vietnamese people, and 5 foreigners mainly from China. Currently, the health conditions of the patients have stabilised, and only 6 of them have a low grade fever.

According to a spokesperson for the Da Nang International Airport, all flights between Da Nang and China have been temporarily suspended. Up to now, the number of Chinese visitors arriving in the city has decreased by 49% compared to the same period last year.

Chairman Tho confirmed that no cases of coronavirus-infected tourists have been reported in the city. He, however, suggested that more training courses on the danger level and symptoms of 2019-nCoV , as well as how to prevent 2019-nCoV infection, should be organised for medical workers citywide.

He also stressed the need for local media agencies to exactly publicise the epidemic situation amongst local residents and tourists in order to prevent the spread of fake news and ensure social safety and order in all situations.  

By PHAN CHUNG - Translated by MAI DUNG