Da Nang confirmed 144 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, August 26, of which, 60 were in designated quarantine facilities, 29 were self-isolating at home, 44 were identified in local zoned-off areas and the remaining 11 were detected in the community, the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced.

Of the11 community-acquired cases, 7 were identified via the citywide ‘one door-one test’ campaign applied to all households, with the Hoa Cuong Nam, Thach Thang, Binh Thuan wards, Hai Chau District recording 4 cases whilst Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Khanh Bac Ward and Thanh Khe District’s Tam Thuan Ward documenting one case each.

The remaining community-based ones were discovered during examinations at local medical facilities due to the showing of suspicious symptoms. Two of them had previously tested negative for the coronavirus 2 times. In particular, a nurse from the Department of Pediatrics at the Cam Le District Medical Centre, who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on August 14, 17, 20 and 23 was confirmed to be infected with this contagious disease.

It is highly concerning 7 out of the community –acquired cases recorded on Thursday were of unknown source of infection.

The infection cluster at the shut-down Hoa Cuong Wholesale Market, the largest of its kind in Central Viet Nam, is still at a high risk with the detection of 101 cases on Thursday, bringing the total infections to 1,198 till date, comprising 2324 traders working at the market, 49 were shoppers and 915 were direct/indirect contacts.

In addition, the chain of infection arising from the local lockdown areas in Son Tra District recorded 12 more COVID-19 cases.

Amongst the local district, Hai Chau recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases on the review day with 72. In particular, the coronavirus hotspot of Hoa Thuan Dong Ward recorded 32 new cases, mainly in small alleys at No. 524, 514 Hoang Dieu, 448 Trung Nu Vuong, 149 Le Dinh Ly and 59 Nui Thanh.

As for other districts, Thanh Khe documented 29 cases, most of which were discovered in some alleys along Tran Cao Van Street.

Meanwhile, 21 infections were reported in Cam Le, 8 in Ngu Hanh Son, 6 in Son Tra and Hoa Vang each and 2 in Lien Chieu.

The day's number has pushed the city’s tally in the ongoing wave since July 10 to 3,455.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by A.T