The Da Nang authorities are calling on the general public to continue staying on high guard against COVID-19 by strengthening the strict compliance of Viet Nam's national government-mandated pandemic prevention and control measures.

Da Nang is imposing mandatory 14-day quarantine on all Vietnamese returnees from overseas following Viet Nam's national government’s guidelines. In photo: Vietnamese returnees from Taiwan (China) completed immigration procedures at the Da Nang International Airport on 23 January.

Like other Vietnamese localities, Da Nang government’s proactive move came amid the globally complicated COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of subsiding. Alarmingly, Viet Nam confirmed 82 more locally transmitted coronavirus infections at noon on Thursday, taking the day’s count to 84, which is the largest daily rise since the virus hit Viet Nam in January last year, ending nearly two months of no local transmission. The new infections were detected in the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh. Meanwhile, Tet (the Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival), the much-awaited biggest traditional festival of Vietnamese people, is also drawing near.

Strictly practicing quarantine procedures for all arrivals from overseas

Da Nang is imposing mandatory 14-day quarantine on all Vietnamese returnees from overseas following Viet Nam's national government’s guidelines, doctor Pham Truc Lam, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Centre for Disease Control (CDC) said.

In detail, in-flight safety and preventive measures are rigorously enforced to protect the passengers’ health and prevent the spread of the disease. All of the passengers are required to clean their hands and have their health checked before boarding, as well as wear face masks and personal protective gears and limit the intake of foods during the flight.

All passengers and crew members receive medical check-ups on arrival in Da Nang, and they are sent to designated quarantine facilities in line with the national regulations. After that, all passengers and flight crews will have their swab and blood serum samples taken for coronavirus testing.

According to the Ministry of Health, foreign experts who on short-term working trips, must test negative for coronavirus with real time-PCR technique by certified labs in their countries from three to five days prior to the date of entry to Viet Nam.

Also, entry and exit points must be rearranged to make separate lanes for experts, avoiding contact with other people. Foreign experts must also produce the negative tests at entry time, comply with such COVID-19 measures as health declarations, body temperature checks and screenings.

Besides, they are advised to install and use Bluezone, Viet Nam’s contact tracing app available on both Android and iOS platforms, during their stay in Viet Nam.

At the Da Nang Port, heed has been paid to prevent the resurgent of the virus by limiting physical interaction between onboard and onshore staff as one of the strict requirements. Before making a port entry for loading and discharging operations, any foreign-flagged ships are required to move to a pontoon dock for their disinfection and the health checkups of their crew members.

During the duration of loading and discharging operations, the crew members are banned from coming ashore, except the specific cases to be agreed upon when necessary for the normal operation of the ship.

Also, the crew membersare encouraged to communicate with quayside staff by radio or telephone. Any cases of illness or bad feeling among them are required to be reported to the port authorities.

Doctor Nguyen Tien Hong, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Health said there are currently four military facilities and 24 fees-charged accommodation establishments across the city serving as temporary quarantine sites for all arrivals from overseas.

Tightening preventive measures against COVID-19 at medical facilities

Many medical facilities across Da Nang are in full swing in taking appropriate measures to ensure the ultimate safety of their staff, patients and visitors in an attempt to adapt themselves to the new normal. Picture taken at the Da Nang General Hospital.

Many medical facilities across Da Nang are in full swing in taking appropriate measures to ensure the ultimate safety of their staff, patients and visitors in an attempt to adapt themselves to the new normal.

Plans for preventing the resurgence of the deadly virus is being implemented in a strict manner at the Da Nang General Hospital, the largest of its kind in the city, for instance. This hospital, every day, receives large numbers of in - and out-patients for checkups and treatment from Da Nang and other Vietnamese localities.

All visitors to this hospital are required to queue for their body temperature measured and their epidemiological information declared, said Nguyen Thanh Trung, Deputy Director of Da Nang Hospital.

In particular, the general emergency ward consists of two separate rooms, with one receiving patients with suspicious symptoms.

Anyone who appears to show respiratory symptoms will be examined in a separate area offering sufficient medical services ranging from clinical checkups to diagnostic ultrasound tests.

According to Da Nang Department of Health, CDC Da Nang continues conducting the testing for SARS-CoV-2 on those who show suspected symptoms in order to eliminate the risk of infection.

By PHAN CHUNG- Translated by A.T