The remaining 42 COVID-19 patients along 3 primary close contacts have been moved from the field hospital to the Da Nang Lung Hospital where they will continue to be treated for COVID-19 and undergo further tests.

Da Nang on Monday morning, October 11 announced temporary suspension of its field hospital earlier set up at the Student Hall of Residence to the west of the city to treat COVID-19 patients in the city due to a decline in new daily caseloads.

The COVID-19 field hospital temporarily closed its door after its remaining 42 COVID-19 patients along 3 primary close contacts had been moved to the Da Nang Lung Hospital where they will continue to be treated for COVID-19 and undergo further tests. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

The field hospital opened on July 24, and it was the second facility of Da Nang General Hospital which was used for receiving and treating asymptomatic or mild patients with COVID-19 infection. Da Nang adopted the three-tiered approach to care for patients with COVID-19 in an attempt to provide effective treatment for infected patients and reduce numbers of COVID-19 deaths.

The first tier which was based at the Field Hospital offered primary medical support to COVID-19 patients. The second tier is at the Hoa Vang District Medical Centre, which offers treatment to COVID-19 patients with risk factors such as comorbid conditions and others who are the elderly and pregnant women. The third tier based at the Da Nang Lung Hospital 2 specializes in treating severely-ill patients who require intensive care and medical intervention.

The 1,700- bed field hospital has treated about 3,900 COVID-19 patients in Da Nang since its opening on July 24. Nearly 800 doctors and nurses were deployed to the facility.

The field hospital has treated about 3,900 COVID -19 patients since its opening on on July 24. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

However, the field hospital is not being dismantled completely in case it needs to be opened for patients amid the complex developments of COVID-19, Doctor Le Duc Nhan, the Director of Da Nang General Hospital said.

After closing its door, the field hospital will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in a bid to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

The Hoa Vang District Medical Centre is no longer accepting COVID-19 patients, and the final patient was discharged on October 8. The facility began gradually reopening beds for non-COVID patients on October 11 after carrying out thorough cleaning and disinfection.

Currently, the Lung Hospital is the only healthcare facility across Da Nang where 50 patients, including 5 requiring critical care, are being treated for COVID-19.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – translating by H.L