Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen on Saturday afternoon, October 2, warned of potential resurgence of respiratory illnesses following the city’s further relaxation of COVID restrictions and its reopening.

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen delivers her instructions at the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control’'s regular meeting on the afternoon of October 2. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Mrs Yen stated that the city is seeing a growing number of arrivals from other Vietnamese localities after reopening, posing a hidden threat to it although the outbreak has been brought under control.

She called on officials and her community to continue adherence with COVID-19 precautionary measures in line with the new guidance from national and municipal governments in order to facilitate rapid return to the normal life in the city.

Mrs Yen asked the districts across the city to ensure strict compliance with precautionary measures in line with the government’s COVID-19 guidelines in the new normal in an effort to minimize the risk from the virus when the city have reintroduced activities.

Vice Chairwoman Yen further highlighted that the health sector continues to put all possible efforts to contain the spread of the virus with a focus on ensuring regular mass community testing as well as timely and efficient distribution of COVID-19 vaccines for the city’s adult population.

The heed must be paid on fixing shortcomings and improving coordination between relevant agencies and authorities at local level in a bid to ensure the efficient and effective management of COVID-19 risks in their local areas, Mrs Yen emphasized.

The Da Nang leader highlighted the need for tight controls at entry points in the city to effectively managing the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak from arrivals. The combination of screening tests and close surveillance of drivers of vehicles carrying goods into the city under green lane is needed for preventing an infectious case entering the community, Mrs Yen directed.

Data published by the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that one COVID-19 case was detected after the completion of mass testing from September 23 -25 while there were no new cases in the community to report in scope of the next round of the city’s screening program from September 30 to October 2.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – translating by H.L