During an online meeting on Friday afternoon with the Da Nang Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang said that next steps in the city’s COVID-19 response will be announced today, August 21.

Both Secretary Quang and municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh affirmed that the city would continue to adopt strong measures in line with the current direction from the Da Nang government after 8:00 am on August 23.

The scene of municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang and municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh in meeting online on Friday afternoon. Photo: LE HUNG

Secretary Quang asked the municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to immediately send COVID-19 test results from the first round of the city’s mass testing to districts citywide. This will help authorities at local level to develop map to show the spread and severity of COVID-19 in each residential area to enable appropriate measures tailored to be adopted in their local areas, Mr Quang remarked.

The municipal Department of Information and Communications was asked to build digital map of all residential groups and areas citywide highlighting the number of COVID-19 cases based on test results from combined first and second rounds of the city’s screening program.  

The Da Nang top leader directed district authorities to quickly identify high-risk areas in their local areas in order to take effective response to combat COVID-19.

Secretary Nguyen Van Quang demanded the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to work with the Police Department to handle with illicit drug users and put them in the designated rehabilitation facility.

Mr Quang said that some shippers who been vaccinated against COVID-19 and tested negative for the virus will be allowed to operate in order to deliver food and essential items to local residents.

“During the shipping process, the shipper must wear personal protective clothing, use face masks, gloves and anti-droplet hats to protect themselves and others. Regular rapid testing is made mandatory for shippers”, Mr Quang emphasized.

Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh said the city will continue to adopt strong measures to fight COVID-19, and this will affect the life of all people across Da Nang, especially those with difficult circumstances.

On behalf of Da Nang leaders, Mr Chinh appreciated strict compliance with new restrictions in line with the current direction among local residents, and called on everyone across the city to continue to work together with the municipal authorities to successfully control the spread of COVID-19.

Chairman Chinh affirmed that the health and safety of all people in Da Nang are key priorities for the city administration.

A healthcare worker in Hai Chau District took nasal swab of a household representative living on Hoang Dieu Street in the second round of the city’s screening program in the morning of August 20. Photo: LE HUNG

Chairman Chinh said the city’s mass community testing has yielded positive outcomes over the past 5 days, and it has helped to find many asymptomatic cases.

The city government leader urged officials to take action to ensure the supply of food items for all residents, with high priority given to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

According to the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the taskforce at checkpoints at entry points on Friday conducted COVID-19 checks on 3 motorbikes and 4,371 cars, during which, requiring 5,893 people to have their body temperature measured and declare their health status, along with conducting rapid tests of 153 people.In addition, 26 vehicles were refused entry into the city.

Also on Friday, fines of more than VND 127 million were imposed on 26 people for breaking the city’s COVID-19 rules. In total, over VND 3.11 billion worth of fines have been levied on 973 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