Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang on Wednesday afternoon underscored the importance of the second phase of mass asymptomatic testing to find all cases in efforts to break the COVID-19 chains of transmission. The focus must be on rolling out mass community testing across Da Nang in the most effective way to tackle the evasion of testing in order to detect people who have COVID-19 but show no symptoms, Mr Quang directed.

Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang (left) and municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh co-chair an online meeting to discuss further measures to tackle rising cases on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: LE HUNG

A record in COVID-19 testing

“Da Nang has seen positive effects of control measures after the first 3 days of tougher COVID-19 cubs. The positive outcomes were mainly attributed to fully compliance with the city’s new restrictions among general public, and concerted efforts from the taskforce and authorities at local level to tackle COVID-19 while ensuring the supply of food items for local residents”, the city Party Chief remarked.

Mr Quang said that testing set a record on August 18 in Da Nang touching more than 115,123 samples studied, including 114,146 RT-PCR tests, and 134 tested positive for COVID -19, including 66 asymptomatic cases.

Secretary Quang demanded authorities at local level to asses the result of the first phase of mass testing rolled out in their local areas, and make accurate risk assessment at their locales. He also said that the identification of the infection source in confirmed cases is very important to all districts across the city to stop the spread of the virus.

The second phase of mass asymptomatic testing began to roll out across Da Nang today, August 19. Mr Quang said that more effective action is needed to achieve the best possible outcomes in this testing program.

The focus must be paid on investigating on new cases, especially COVID-19 infections linked to newly-declared Hoa Cuong wholesale market cluster.

The Authority of Da Nang Hi-tech Park and Industrial Parks was asked to enhance surveillance of businesses under their management to make sure that they are sticking to the government-recommended COVID-19 control measures at work. In addition, the heed must be paid on encouraging more businesses to adopt the stay-at-work solution amid COVID-19 crisis.

Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet addressing the Wednesday’s meeting. Photo: LE HUNG

Mr Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, the Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People's Council called on officials to take proactive action to provide timely support for businesses, the unemployed, and those struggling financially due to COVID-19 in accordance with the guidelines from Viet Nam’s national government.

Taking initiative to develop appropriate responses to COVID-19

Mr Le Trung Chinh, the Chairman of the municipal People's Committee and Head of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, called on officials at local level to take initiative to develop appropriate plans tailored to their local areas in response to COVID-19. All necessary measures are needed to ensure that testing asymptomatic persons are covered in efforts to interrupt SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

“The mass testing program has helped to find new infections over recent days, and this is all in accordance with the Da Nang government’s forecasts. New cases may peak in the coming days. The health agency must roll out mass vaccination program in the most effective way with high priority to all people who are on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19, and those who are helping the city’s battle against the deadly disease," said Chairman Chinh.

A healthcare professional in Cam Le District administering COVID-19 vaccine for an eligible man. Photo: LE HUNG

Doctor Tran Thanh Thuy, the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health, said the ‘one- door one-test’ campaign has found many asymptomatic cases in the community. Therefore, the focus must be on rolling out this campaign across the city to target all people who are living in rented accommodation.

Fines of more than VND 214 million on August 18 were imposed on 37 people for breaking the city’s COVID-19 rules. In total, over VND 2.86 billion worth of fines have been levied on 923 violators of the city’s COVID-19 restrictions since June 18, according to latest figures released by the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Reporting by LE HUNG – Translating by H.L