Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang called on relevant agencies and every one across the city to make concerted effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Secretary Quang (left) on Saturday afternoon called for decade of concerted effort to bring the outbreak under control at the Da Nang Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control’s meeting . Photo: PHAN CHUNG

The city Party Chief remarked that driven by the highly contagious delta variant, the COVID-19 outbreak has spread across the city with a spike in community cases and their associated COVID-19 hotspots.

The Da Nang government has announced new social distancing rules, effective from 6pm on July 31, to prevent the spread of coronavirus

Therefore, the government has announced new social distancing rules, effective from 6pm on July 31, to prevent the spread of coronavirus and these new measures are necessary to suppress the virus, Mr Quang said.

Doctor Pham Hong Nam (second, right) said that the health agency is putting all its fforts into conducting COVID-19 tests for all people in Son Tra District, especially Nai Hien Dong ward. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

The taskforce have been deployed to checkpoints across the city to enforce the new social distancing rules to make sure everyone in the city is sticking to new regulations or face strictest penalties for non-compliance.  

Secretary Quang (right) visited and gave spirit encouragement to the taskforce staffing at a checkpoint in Nai Hien Dong Ward. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh said: “It’s a municipal effort to win coronavirus fight, we all have crucial part to play. Together, we all do everything possible to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy during the pandemic”.

Chairman Chinh called on each individual in the city to play their part in the fight against COVID-19 under the slogan ‘Every business, every citizen, every residential area must be a fortress to stop the spread of the virus’.

The city government leader urged all people in Da Nang to unite in a common purpose to suppress the virus in order to bring the life in the city to return to normal.   

Mr Chinh advised local residents to stop panic shopping and hoarding as the government has assured regular and enough supply of food and other essential items.

Secretary Quang (second, right) demanded the Son Tra District authorities to impose local lockdown order on some wards in the district following a rise in COVID-19 cases. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Doctor Pham Hong Nam, the Director of the Son Tra District Medical Centre, said that the district alone on July 31recorded 35 new cases of COVID-19, of which, 4 were detected in An Hai Bac Ward, 4 in Man Thai Ward, 6 in Tho Quang Ward and 21 in Nai Hien Dong Ward.

In the afternoon of July 30 and July 31, healthcare workers conducted sample collection to test for the virus from all residents in Nai Hien Dong Ward.

Apart from Nai Hien Dong Ward, An Hai Bac, Man Thai, and Tho Quang wards have been identified as COVID-19 hotspots as their new cases are linked to the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf, Mr. Hoang Son Tra, the Chairman of Son Tra District People's Committee, said.

 Secretary Quang directed the Son Tra District authorities to impose local lockdown order on the four wards, especially Nai Hien Dong Ward, which have been identified as COVID-19 hotspots in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.

The focus must be paid on enhancing strong enforcement of stay-at-home order and increasing the monitoring of the health of all residents in local lockdown areas, as well as tightening surveillance of people with COVID-19 suspected symptoms.

Strict local lockdown order has been officially declared in Nai Hien Dong Ward by the Son Tra District authorities, effective from 10pm on July 31 until further notice.

People in strict local lockdown areas are asked to stay at home as much as possible, but make exceptions to go out for medical care, food and essential work. They are advised to keep a distance of 2 m at all times. Social gatherings of more than two people will be banned in lockdown areas, but it will not apply to schools, workplaces or COVID-secure venues. The suspension will be put in place in non- essential services during the lockdown period.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L