Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairman Le Quang Nam on Monday afternoon called for increased checks at points of entry to enforce quarantine rules on arrivals from COVID-19 affected areas, especially those suspected of having the virus or develop symptoms.

People entering or returning to Da Nang from affected areas must follow health declaration and quarantine regulations, or face strictest penalties for non-compliance, the government announced.

Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Le Quang Nam called on police officers and involved persons to tighten oversight of persons and vehicles at points of entry at a meeting on Monday afternoon. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Mr Nam urged officials, police officers, members of COVID-19 task force, and each individual across the city to have a role to play in the city’s fight against the virus. They were called for joint effort to enable appropriate measures to be taken to reduce the risk of re-introduction or importation of SARS-CoV-2 into the city.

The city leader demanded the health agency and relevant agencies to make every effort to ensure every one in ring-fenced COVID-19 hotspots is following best practices to limit the risk of cross-transmission in these settings.

“The reality is as long as it is raging elsewhere across Viet Nam, COVID-19 is still a threat to people in Da Nang. The Da Nang government is taking drastic action to bring the outbreak under control and faciliate businesses operating in the city to boost productivity in bid to survive the pandemic. We require companies, especially in industrial parks,  to strengthen prevention measures in the workplace, including wearing face masks, social distancing and health declaration, in order to ensure a safe and secure workplace for their employees amidst COVID fight. Employers must follow safe management measures to protect workers and workplaces from a re-emergence of COVID-19 or face temporary closure and fines for non-compliance, " said Vice Chairman Nam.

Mr Nam directed the health agency and district-level authorities to roll out COVID-19 testing for target groups and those in high-risk settings in line with the government’s guidelines. In addition, the focus must be on raising public awareness of vaccine benefits, and enhancing public trust in COVID-19 vaccination to make sure a vaccine is safe for everyone, the city leader emphasised.

Da Nang on Monday ( June 28) recorded 1 new confirmed cases in the 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 82 after the resurgence of COVID-19 in June, the Da Nang Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control (CDC)’s figure shows. The new case is the primary close contact, and is in managed isolation.

Till date, Da Nang has already tracked down 575 primary close contacts of the infected patients, and put them under quarantine at designated facilities while local healthcare workers are putting in place close monitoring of more than 2,800 secondary close contacts at their places of residence.

The city has to date quarantined 253 returnees from COVID-19 affected areas.

The task force staffing checkpoints at points of entry on Monday conducted COVID-19 related stop checks on 19,758 vehicles entering the city, during which, 18 vehicles were denied entry into the Da Nang for non-compliance with COVID-19 rules, along with 29,833 arrivals had their body temperature measured and were required to complete a compulsory health declaration form, while 6 others were imposed self- isolation at home order.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L