Da Nang is now racing against time to stop the spread of coronavirus after new community transmission cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the city over recent days.  More than ever, right now, Vietnamese national government and the country’s health care sector, especially hospitals nationwide, must give more active support for Da Nang in its tough fighting against the novel coronavirus. 

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam delivering his specific Covid-19 prevention and control instructions

The statements were released by Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Vu Duc Dam, the Head of Viet Nam's National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, during an online meeting on Tuesday with leaders from large hospitals in Da Nang and elsewhere across the country to discuss the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

Deputy PM Dam underlined a must-do for the Ministry of Health to conduct a search to find the source of Da Nang's first coronavirus infection as quickly as possible, in tandem with ensuring that hospitals’ strict compliance with the national regulations and guidelines on the pandemic prevention.

In particular, the national government leader also stressed an urgent need to save the lives of Covid-19 patients, at all costs.

In response to the pandemic, Da Nang has already set up a Covid-19 treatment centre at Da Nang Lung Hospital for receiving and treating potential patients with mild and moderate symptoms.

Currently, the sampling for Covid-19 tests and testing of epidemiological factors are now conducted by the Da Nang Center for Disease Control (CDC) lab in collaboration with district-level medical establishments.

According to doctor Ngo Thi Kim Yen, the Director of the Da Nang Department of Health, the Ministry of Health has sent three special task forces in charge of helping Da Nang fight the virus insurgence.

In addition, experienced doctors from Viet Nam’s two largest medical establishments, namely Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray and Ha Noi-located Bach Mai hospitals, made their appearance in Da Nang for their support missions.

Inside the special treatment zone for Covid-19 patients at the Da Nang General Hospital

Hue Central Hospital located in Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province, is also making preparations in terms of equipment, personnel and facilities to receive Da Nang's most critical Covid-19 patients, especially those suffering from such other diseases as hemodialysis, in order to help ease Covid-19 patient overload facing Da Nang in cases of more infections.

In parallel with the implementation of the Covid-19 prevention and control measures, medical workers at the Da Nang General Hospital still maintain the good performance of their professional tasks.

On Tuesday, large numbers of police, military officers and men from downtown Hai Chau District set up checkpoints at the entrances to residential areas adjacent to the Da Nang General Hospital, the C Hospital and the Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital, where the patients visited just before they were diagnosed with Covid-19, as a measure to prevent the Covid-19 spread.

The Da Nang General Hospital monitoring the health indicators of Covid-19 patients inside the treatment zone

The functional forces’ members visited every family in these residential areas to publicise the inhabitants here to strictly comply with the municipal government-mandated lockdown regulations.

Meanwhile, Son Tra District’s police forces paid regular patrol visits to local traditional markets in order to remind market stall holders and shoppers to wear face coverings and avoid gatherings.

In a similar move, police officers and men from Thanh Khe District has already distributed more than 5,000 leaflets to residents in order to encourage them to practise Da Nang's social distancing restrictions.

Besides, the local police have focused on strictly handling violations of temporary residence regulations, and dealing with those who are found evading, breaking compulsory quarantine or knowingly concealing their suspected symptom of the disease. 

By PHAN CHUNG –NGOC PHU- Translated by A.T