Contact tracing, medical quarantine, testing tasks as well as COVID-19 response scenarios are being effectively prepared by Da Nang authorities and ready to be deployed in a timely, prompt manner. In addition, COVID-19 prevention task forces have resumed their operation in response to the possible pandemic wave.

COVID-19 prevention task forces in in Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District reminding market-goers and stall holders at the Mai Market to follow the mandatory regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control. (Photo taken on May 4 by PHAN CHUNG)

Promoting contact tracing and drawing up COVID-19 response scenarios

According to doctor Ton That Thanh, Director of the Da Nang Center for Disease Control (CDC), the city is still on the right track in following the drastic motto of contact tracing - isolating- testing with high determinations and great efforts.

On May 3 and 4, CDC Da Nang worked with district-level healthcare centre to speed up tracing, and identified 39 close contacts of the COVID-19 catching man confirmed on Monday, coded patient No 2982 in Viet Nam, who works as a spa ticket seller at the Phu An Hotel on December 2 Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang.

Twenty-six of them tested negative for COVID-19 once, whilst 12 others are waiting for their test results, and only one who works at the same hotel as patient No 2982 is stricken by the deadly virus.

“The close contacts of this man are now being put under mandatory quarantine, and must have their throat and nasal swabs taken for COVID-19 testing for twice and thrice. In addition, CDC Da Nang is working with other functional local bodies to continue tracing other close contacts. Those who visited places identified in the travel history of COVID-19 patients should immediately contact their nearest medical centres to make medical declarations and take necessary measures against COVID-19 for their safety ”, said Dr. Thanh.

Doctor Tran Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health, three scenarios for treating COVID-19 patients at local medical facilities have been developed, namely the number of infections being less than 120, 500 and 1,000, respectively.

If there are more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients, the city will ask for medical interventions from Viet Nam's national government and support from other nationwide localities.

Promote the role of community-based COVID-19 prevention task forces

A male member from a COVID-19 prevention task force in Thuan Phuoc Ward, Hai Chau District reminding local residents to comply with safety measures against the deadly virus. (Photo: XUAN DUNG)

In its efforts to enhance the supervision and monitoring of public health, and promptly isolate people who have been in contact, directly or indirectly with COVID-19 patients, community-based COVID-19 prevention task forces have resumed their operation.

Under the direct management of the district-level authorities, these forces consist of members who are representatives from public agencies and social associations, plus volunteers living in residential areas.

The forces’ members are tasked themselves with maintaining the regular monitoring of their target families here and closely supervising their compliance with the compulsory measures against the spread of the virus.

Another important mission is to regularly monitor the health of local residents, especially in high-risk places linking to COVID-19 patients.

In particular, anyone who appears to have the most commonly reported signs and symptoms such as fever, cough, a sore throat, chest pain and shortness of breath, will be reported to local health authorities for early detecting suspected cases and taking their clinical specimens for COVID-19 testing, and promptly carrying out appropriate isolation and medical interventions as well.

It is urgent to quickly trace all close contacts of confirmed patients, and conduct their epidemiological investigation to prevent more infections in the community. The resumption of such task forces is now one of the decisive factors to the effectiveness of the existing coronavirus prevention and control missions in the city.

In Thuan Phuoc Ward, Hai Chau District, for instance, as many as 60 task forces, in prompt fashion, have contacted each family nearby the New Phuong Dong discotheque parlor where COVID-19 patient No 2982 visited, in order to encourage residents to strictly obey the safety measures against the deadly virus and to promptly detect any suspicious cases which are subject to testing and isolation measures.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG, XUAN DUNG – Translating by A.T