Addressing a meeting on Friday morning on responding to the pandemic, Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Truong Quang Nghia said the next 7 days will be the decisive time within which to stop the spread of the virus. It is high time for the local authorities to take more drastic actions to both contain the spread and secure a head-start on economic recovery strategies suitable the current situation with the virus.

Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Truong Quang Nghia delivering his instructions at the event on Friday morning

From now onwards, Da Nang must step up its ‘test, track and trace’ efforts, with a focus on scaling up the city's coronavirus testing programmes to provide tests for people living in local areas which are at most risk of coronavirus resurgences, in a bid to suppress the spread of Covid-19 infections in the community in Da Nang and drive cases down to zero in the city in the coming time.

Besides, more proactive plans should be rolled out to enhance the Covid-19 treatment capacity, minimise virus-caused deaths, and avoid the possibility of cross-infection in the city’s designated quarantine facilities.

With regard to solutions to the city’s economic recovery, the municipal Party chief urged local relevant agencies to mull over how to revive business activities, with the priorities for accelerating on key projects and the full disbursement of the city's public investment fund.

It is also worth noting that the Da Nang administration should proactively urge Viet Nam's national government to give a nod to the deployment of preferential mechanisms and policies for Da Nang to help drive its economic recovery.  Heed should be paid to securing the provision of more financial aid from the national government to those financially struggling across the city as a result of the coronavirus crisis in a timely, fair and transparent manner.

Meanwhile, production and business activities must be in full swing in industrial parks and industrial clusters as a move to avoid any economic disruptions as per the Prime Minister's guidelines.

The spread of the coronavirus is slowing down in Da Nang, whilst the virus treatment capacity has gradually enhanced, together marking the initial basis for loosening the ongoing social distancing restrictions.  However, any decisions on when and where to ease these requirements to pave the way for a resumption of normal life must be taken into careful and appropriate consideration in the coming time.

The reality shows that social distancing can never prevent 100% of transmissions, but by following these simple rules, individuals can play a critical role in slowing the spread of the virus. If the number of cases isn’t kept below what the health care system can handle at any one time – called flattening the curve– medical facility could become overwhelmed, leading to unnecessary deaths and suffering.

Currently, 186 coronavirus patients are being treated in the Da Nang Lung Hospital and the Hoa Vang Field Hospital, of whom 69% now show no clinical manifestations, whilst 15% with mild symptoms and the remainder in a severe or critical condition.

Meanwhile, heavy administrative penalties will be imposed on any breach in the ongoing citywide social distancing rules, especially such violations as public gatherings, parties and not wearing face covering in public places.

Till date, a total of 1.5 billion VND in fines has been imposed on 1,700 violations of the ongoing compulsory social distancing mandates.

By PHAN CHUNG –Translated by A.T