Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh on Monday afternoon stressed the need to keep a close surveillance on people arriving in the city from other parts of the country amid nationwide localities’ reopening as a blanket policy to prevent COVID-19 importations or reintroduction from new arrivals.

Municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh delivers his address at the regular meeting of the municipal COVID-19 Monitoring Committee on the afternoon of October 4. Photo: LE HUNG

Chairman Chinh highlighted huge efforts districts across the city and relevant units have made to ensure strict compliance of COVID-19 prevention measures in line with the current direction from the municipal government and health bodies after eased restrictions came into effect from September 30.

He stated that the city is projected to see a significant rise in arrivals and returnees from Southern localities in the coming time, thereby asking for tight controls at entry points and close watch on people coming from other localities.

The Da Nang government leader called on citizens across the city to continue to comply with the recommended health and safety protocols, especially the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health, in order to protect themselves and others.

He also highlighted the need to enhance surveillance of designated quarantine facilities in a bid to ensure the safety of the quarantined and staff in these venues in addition to continuing to provide rapid antigen tests for drivers of vehicles entering the city in an attempt to early detect COVID-19 cases and timely isolate them to prevent the spread of the virus.

Da Nang is launching its immunisation drive from October 5-8 with 100,000 doses of Vero Cell vaccine manufactured by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd (BIBP), China, under Sinopharm.

Mr Chinh underlined the necessity of enhancing public trust in COVID-19 vaccination in efforts to encourage them to show their willingness to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their friends and their family.

Chairman Chinh directed the health agency to work with the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs to continue to offer a COVID-19 vaccine to foreigners who are staying in the city.

He praised staff of the COVID-19 field hospital at the Student Hall of Residence in the west of the city, the Da Nang Lung Hospital, and the Hoa Vang District Medical Center for their efforts in effectively treating COVID-19 patients.

Da Nang is currently practising the three-tiered COVID-19 treatment model under the guidance of the Ministry of Health with the aim to reduce the number of critically ill patients and death rates caused by late access to treatment.

Mr Chinh remarked that all the doctors, nurses from the three above-mentioned healthcare facilities have given their best in the successful treatment of the elderly patients with underlying medical conditions and critical care patients, thereby helping the city record high numbers of recoveries from coronavirus.

Currently, 169 people, including 10 requiring critical care, are being treated for the coronavirus in Da Nang’s hospitals. Mr Chinh said that the remaining COVID-19 patients, except for critical care patients, are expected to be discharged to home this week following COVID-19 recovery.

Reporting by LE HUNG – Translating by H.L