Mr Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, the Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People's Council on Tuesday afternoon called on the health agency to speed up its COVID-19 testing efforts and expand its capacity to test for the virus with a focus on people in high-risk settings following a rise in community cases.

Mr  Triet emphasized the need to enhance monitoring of local industrial parks to keep business operating there compliant with advice and guidance for infection prevention and control from the municipal government and health bodies.

Deputy Secretary Triet (left) delivered his instructions at the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control’s meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Deputy Secretary Triet remarked that the coronavirus outbreak has spread to 47 out of 56 communes and wards across the city with a surge in locally acquired cases. He underlined the need to step up contact tracing and testing efforts to keep up with rising cases in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.

Mr Triet asked the health agency to work with relevant units to maximize available resources to carry out COVID-19 sample collection and testing for suspected cases and people in high-risk settings. The heed must be paid on enforcing regulations to shut businesses for non-compliance with COVID-19 rules.     

Municipal People’s Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh called for stricter health measures to be put in place at local wet markets and allow space for social distancing among stallholders as COVID-19 confirmed cases have been identified in 12 markets in the city.

Chairman Chinh demanded officials to work with the Association of Da Nang Compatriots in Ho Chi Minh City to bring home more Da Nang citizens stranded there due to COVID-19.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L