Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairman Le Quang Nam on Tuesday afternoon called for continued efforts to tighten controls at all points of entry, including trails, in a bid to detect arrivals without passing COVID-19 checkpoints or illegal border crossings.

Municipal Committee Vice Chairman Le Quang Nam calls on functional forces to enhance surveillance of COVID-19 at points of entry and high-risk settings on Tuesday meeting. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Mr Nam also demanded functional forces to increase checks on persons and vehiles entering the city to reduce the risk of re-introduction or importation of SARS-CoV-2 into the city.

Vice Chairman Nam directed district-level authorities and relevant agencies to enforce COVID-19-rules across the city, with a focus on requiring persons coming from elsewhere across the country to complete a health declaration form with accurate and true information upon arrival in Da Nang or face hash penalties for non-compliance.

The city leader also called for joint efforts from border guards, police and local forces to tighten controls at the city's borders with neighbouring provinces, namely Quang Nam and Thua Thien- Hue to to tackle migrant activity.

“The heed must be paid on enhancing surveillance of COVID-19 in high-risk settings, including industrial parks, Hoa Cuong Wholesale Market in parallel with increasing controls at points of entry. We must urgently develop COVID-19 planning and reasonable worst-case scenarios in high-risk settings in the city in order to to enable appropriate measures to be taken to contain the spread of the virus”, Mr Nam remarked.

Vice Chairman Nam directed the health agency and Son Tra District to work together to strenghen public health and social measures in the ​​Tho Quang Fishing Wharf in order to ensure smooth operations and reduce the risk of COVID-19.

Nasal swab samples are collected for COVID-19 tests from traders, fishermen and others operating at these sites, June 28, 2021. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Upon being informed of the fact that some Quang Ngai Province natives infected with COVID-19 operated at Da Nang-based Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and the Seafood Wholesale Market 6 days ago, the Son Tra District authorities have quickly taken measures to slow the spread of the virus at these sites and their surroundings. Nasal swab samples had been collected for COVID-19 tests from a total of 1,057 traders, fishermen and others operating at these sites during overnight hours. Tests on these people came back negative for the virus on Tuesday.

The city leader urged the health agency and relevant agencies to make every effort to ensure every one in ring-fenced COVID-19 hotspots must follow best practices, including the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health, to limit the risk of cross-transmission in these settings, or face strictest penalties for non-compliance.

Till date, Da Nang has already tracked down 558 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.

Da Nang on Wednesday morning recorded 1 new confirmed cases in the 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 83 after the resurgence of COVID-19 in June, the Da Nang Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control (CDC)’s figure shows.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L