Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen on Monday afternoon urged authorities at local level and relevant agencies to strengthen measures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 reintroduction from new arrivals from outside of the city, especially from COVID-19 affected areas.

Vice Chairwoman Yen delivers her address at the regular meeting of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control on Monday afternoon. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Vice Chairwoman Yen warned that there is still a high risk of COVID-19 resurgence in Da Nang amid nationwide localities’ reopening as cases have been detected at points of entry in the city in recent days.

She highlighted the need for the taskforce to continue implementing COVID‑19 screening program at entry points in an attempt to identify individuals infected with SARS‑CoV‑2, the virus that causes COVID‑19. Home quarantine is compulsory for returnees from other parts of the country and keeping a close watch on these people at their places of residence is needed maintaining, Mrs Yen emphasized.  

The city leader stated that the resumption of flights from Da Nang also poses COVID-19 threat, thereby asking for enhanced surveillance for early detection and monitoring of COVID-19 in the Da Nang Airport. She also underlined the necessity of taking action against those who gave false and misleading health information in a bid to deter such violations by raising the risk of punishment.

Vice Chairwoman Yen directed the health agency to continue to roll out city-wide testing program, including the One Door – One Test campaign, with a focus on offering COVID-19 testing to teachers, school pupils and university students along with accompanying people who return to the city from affected areas.

Latest figures from the health agency show, 93.3% of the city’s adult population have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 13.6% have had both, giving them maximum protection against the deadly virus.

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. However, the health agency is well prepared to respond to any surges of COVID-19.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – translating by H.L