On Thursday afternoon, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Le Quang Nam signed an official dispatch which instructs all local departments, agencies and district-level authorities to strictly practice protective measures against COVID-19. The Da Nang preparatory move came after more new locally transmitted coronavirus infections were confirmed in the northern Vietnamese localities of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh on Thursday, ending nearly two months of no local transmission in Viet Nam.

Some highly noticeable instructions to which the general public must pay special heed are specifically stipulated as below.

The Da Nang leaders demand that the organisation of events that feature unnecessary mass gatherings be limited from now onwards. If necessary, the event’s organisers must ensure safety measures against COVID-19 in line with Viet Nam's national government-mandated pandemic prevention and control measures.

Of special note, focus should be on making the public habit of wearing face masks a social norm, and making health declarations as requested.

In particular, as long as a F0 (the infected case) is reported in the community, all relevant local agencies must speed up the coronavirus ‘test, track and trace’ strategy in a prompt yet effective manner.

Da Nang government also demands the public across the city to regularly monitor any updates on the deadly virus in the media, especially official online channels, to be fully informed of such pieces of information as tracing and epidemiological investigations into positive cases in the community.

Da Nang government is urging those who left Hai Duong and Quang Ninh for Da Nang since 13 January and 18 January, respectively, to proactively limit their contact with others, and self-isolate for 14- day at their place of residence upon arrival in Da Nang.

The public are highly recommended to use Bluezone, a Bluetooth-based app that helps determine if a person has come into contact with a Covid-19 patient, and the nCOVI app for health declaration and monitoring.

Also, all vehicles transporting citizens from Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces to Da Nang must make reports to the Da Nang authorities as stipulated.

By PHAN CHUNG- Translated by A.T