Mr Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, the Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People's Council on Saturday afternoon urged the health agency and relevant units to quickly track down all contacts of a new COVID-19 confirmed case and conduct tests for them as soon as possible. All these contacts in the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf which has been identified a site of potential exposure to COVID-19.

A scene from the Da Nang Steering for COVID-19 Prevention and Control’s meeting on Saturday afternoon. Photo: LE HUNG

Da Nang on Saturday (July 24) recorded 16 new cases of COVID-19, the Office of the municipal People's Committee’s figure shows. Of these, three cases are infections in the community and the remainder are in managed isolation.

In total, 378 positive cases were reported from July 10- 24, and these cases are linked to 23 clusters.

Notably, 17 cases are linked to the Da Son Slaughterhouse, of which, 12 are related to 5 previous cases while 12 more cases are associated with the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf, of which, 7 are related to 4 previous cases.

Deputy Secretary Triet said that the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf is one of the highest risk places for COVID-19 as there are 3,000-4,000 people and 450-500 vehicles getting into and out of this venue every day.

Mr Triet recommended that rapid tests should be daily conducted for both entries and exists from the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf or this venue should be closed for at least several days in efforts to enable appropriate measures to be taken to tackle COVID-19.

As for the Da Son Slaughterhouse cluster, Deputy Secretary Triet also suggested that temporary closures of slaughtering units where positive cases are detected should be made in addition to quickly identifying their contacts, isolating and testing them.

Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh stressed the need to enforce regulations to have strictest penalties for breaking face mask and social distancing rules to make sure that each individual in the city is sticking to advice and guidance from the government and health bodies, especially the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health to protect themselves and wider community.

“New infections have been down in Da Nang in recent days, but it is not possible to do a proper assessment of the COVID-19 situation”, remarked Mr Chinh.

“The city government has agreed to new policy to conduct coronavirus tests for stall holders selling fish and meat in wet markets across the city every 3 days in a bid to generate a proper risk assessment. Municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh today (July 25) will work with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Health, the Border Guard, and the Son Tra District authorities to assess and manage the risks from COVID-19 in the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf in an attempt to enable effective responses to be made”, Chairman Chinh said.

The city government leader demanded the health agency to conduct rapid tests for police officers and prisoners in the city’s Detention Center, along staff and people in the Bau Bang Rehabilitation Centre for drug addicts in order to allow positive cases caught.

Colonel Tran Dinh Lien, the Deputy Director of the municipal Police Department said that more than 300 officers have been deployed to 90 ‘soft’ checkpoints to support local functional forces, and 84 patrol teams have been established in a bid to enforce stay-at-home order and COVID-19 regulations across the city.

Fines of 48 million VND have been imposed on 27 people for breaking face mask and social distancing rules or leaving their home without a 'reasonable excuse'.

Reporting by LE HUNG – translating by H.L