Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang on Wednesday afternoon directed officials to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 directives issued by the municipal government in addition to making adjustments to the regulations on properly issuing travel permits for people during the city’s social distancing period.

A police officer stops a motorbike rider to check his valid reason for leaving home at a checkpoint on Nguyen Van Linh in Hai Chau District. Photo: Xuan Dung

Having determination to successfully control COVID-19

Secretary Quang highlighted huge efforts the health agency and district authorities have made to ensure stringent compliance with COVID-19 guidelines from the municipal government to tackle rising cases fueled by the highly contagious delta variant.

The Da Nang Party chief said that Son Tra District is getting control of the COVID-19 pandemic with its strong determination and concerted efforts from relevant agencies and other localities across the city.

Mr Quang also called for more drastic action from Son Tra District to curb the spread of the virus and lift local lockdown order in the 4 affected wards after effectively managing the risk of COVID-19 in these high-risk places.

Secretary Quang said that the municipal government must spend nearly 100 billion VND to support residents in local lockdown areas in Son Tra District.

“The Da Nang government is ready to sacrifice the economic benefits of spending a large amount to protect the safety of local residents and bring the outbreak under control. Therefore, we must possess the determination to contain the spread of the virus in a bid to release the 4 wards in Son Tra District from lockdown as soon as possible. Besides, authorities at local level must take action to ensure no additional local lockdown area in Da Nang," remarked Secretary Quang.

Mr Quang stressed the need for authorities at local level to raise public awareness of the city’s strict social distancing measures in efforts to make sure that everyone in their local areas is taking action to keep themselves and their wider community safe and healthy during the pandemic or face strictest penalties for non-compliance.  

A medical staff measured the blood pressure of a woman before she get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Tien Son Sports Arena on July 29. Photo: XUAN DUNG

Ramping up sample collection and testing for COVID-19

Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh directed the health agency to quickly roll out COVID-19 testing for people in high- risk settings and their surroundings to allow positive cases caught.

The city government leader asked the Authority of the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Parks to continue its efforts to keep a close watch on businesses under their management to make sure that they are practising the recommended COVID-19 preventive measures or face shutdown order for non-compliance.

Chairman Chinh asked the Son Tra District authorities to implement strong enforcement of stay-at-home order in local lockdown areas to allow them to leave home only for emergency cases. In addition, Ngu Hanh Son and Hoa Vang districts must focus on piloting to allow COVID-19 primary close contacts to self –isolate at home to monitor their health under a close watch of local authorities and health agency.

This pilot scheme will be expanded into other areas across Da Nang after specific assessments are made by the two districts, Mr Chinh remarked.

Taskforce on Wednesday issued fines to 23 people across the city for not wearing a face mask outdoors, leaving home without a reasonable excuse, and using improper travel permits, the Office of the municipal People's Committee’s figure shows.

Colonel Tran Dinh Chung, the Deputy Director of the municipal Police Department, said that the city on Wednesday saw fewer people travelling on roads compared with the previous days but some were found using improper travel permits. During the day, taskforce at checkpoints across the city detected and seized 1,529 improper travel permits, including some illegally issued ones. Currently, the police are investigating into these cases and handling violations.

Reporting by LE HUNG – Translating by H.L