The authorities of Thanh Khe and Hai Chau districts in Da Nang, over recent times, have taken the initiative to temporarily move residents to safe places from some narrow alleys and densely populated areas which were classified as ‘red zones’ where many infections were logged.

Residents living in an alley in Thanh Binh Ward, Hai Chau District are evacuated to safety to avoid cross –infection, September 4, 2021. Photo: NGUYEN QUANG

According to Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang the relocation approach above mentioned is an effective, timely and proactive measure to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further into the community,

Many days ago, the Tam Thuan Ward in Thanh Khe District and its neighbour, Thanh Binh Ward in Hai Chau District, recorded dozens of COVID-19 cases.

According to the local authorities, many small alleys in the aforementioned wards were densely populated, and the space was so tight and humid. As a result, many residents failed to abide by the COVID-19 safety precautions as mandated, which resulted in a very high risk of cross-infection.

In reality, some alleys which are so much narrow. If residents of two separate houses talking at the doorsteps to each other without wearing face masks may increase the risk of transmissions because the safe distance as requested is not guaranteed.

According to Chairman of Thanh Khe District People's Committee Ho Thuyen, the evacuation of residents from small alleys and densely populated areas where many infections were logged have been implemented with remarkable effectiveness.

Till date, about 400 evacuees have stayed in temporary shelters set up at the Huynh Ngoc Hue, Be Van Dan and Doan Thi Diem Primary School in the district.

As expected, residents living in at-risk alleys along Tran Cao Van Street such as K112, K118, K160, K236, K240 will be temporarily to the Doan Thi Diem Primary School where many vacant rooms are still available. 

“In the coming time, when the evacuation need rises up, the local authorities give the green light to the opening of more temporary shelters  for evacuees in a bid to meet the requirements of pandemic prevention and control”, said Vice Chairman of Thanh Khe District People's Committee Nguyen Huu Cong.

For the time being, the disinfection of ‘hotspots’ whose population has been already evacuated is in progress in a prompt fashion to stamp out the further coronavirus spread. Once the coronavirus spread is put under control, the cleanups of these sites will be conducted to welcome residents back.

According to Chairman of Hai Chau District People's Committee Le Tu Gia Thanh, more than 20 households with a combined total of 60 residents living in residential group No.50 in Thanh Binh Ward, which borders with Tam Thuan Ward, have been evacuated to safety from packed coronaviurs clusters found in damp, small alleys. So far, all the evacuees have tested negative for the virus 6 times, which proves the fact that the evacuation measure is on the right track with high effectiveness. 

“We are in great support for the evacuation policy initiated by the local administration. We feel really secure whilst staying in shelters with all living conditions are guaranteed well.  Moreover, functional bodies have paid to guarding our houses and possessions inside whist we are away from home”, said one of the evacuee in Tam Thuan Ward, Thanh Khe District.

Thanks to the timely evacuation approach, the number of COVID-19 infections in Tam Thuan and Thanh Binh wards has decreased gradually. For instance, on September 3, Tam Thuan Ward recorded the highest infection count amongst the city’s total 56 wards and communes with 39 new cases. Encouragingly, as of September 13, the patient number in this ward had decreased sharply to only 1 - 2, all of which were found in the city’s designated quarantined sites.

Secretary Quang affirmed that the city has sacrificed economic benefits and   strengthened the human resource system to achieve the ultimate goal of completely stamping out the COVID-19 wave, thus heading towards the new normal at the soonest and boost economic recovery.

The city’s Party chief thanked all local residents for having supported and strictly complied all safety measures against COVID-19 mandated by the municipal administration over the past time.

Reporting by MINH SON- Translating by A.T