Authorities at local level and relevant agencies in Da Nang must take more drastic measures to roll out screening programme across the city in fast and effective practices to reach those most at risk from infection in an attempt to identify people who have COVID-19 but have no symptoms so that they will be isolated timely, to help curb the spread of the virus amid rising cases.

The statement was made by Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen at a meeting of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control held late afternoon on Friday, November 12.

Vice Chairwoman Yen delivered her address at Friday’s meeting of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Mrs Yen also highlighted the need to identify accurately high-risk areas related to confirmed cases in a bid to suppress the virus.

She stated that 21 out of 34 COVID-19 cases which were detected on Friday are likely to spread to the community, posing a higher risk to the city. In addition, COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in people returning to Da Nang from other parts of the country over recent days and they were found positive for the virus at entry points.

She praised the taskforce staffing at entry points for their efforts to early detect active cases to timely isolate and provide prompt treatment to them in a bid to prevent the chance of people from outside Da Nang to bring coronavirus into the city.   

Mrs Yen called on everyone across Da Nang to strictly observe health protocols to fight COVID-19, especially the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health. Authorities at local level were tasked to enhance enforcement of COVID-19 rules in their local areas to take action against violations of the rules amid the complex developments of COVID-19.

Raising the alert for Nai Hien Dong and An Hai Bac wards to level three

Following latest decision by the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Nai Hien Dong and An Hai Bac wards in Son Tra District will move from level 2 into level 3 of the city’s four-tier coronavirus alert system from 6:00 am on November 14 as the two wards have emerged as new hot spots for coronavirus cases. This is the first time Da Nang has raised its alert level for ward level areas to tackle a rise in infections.

The Da Nang government on Friday evening announced new restrictions in the two wards, and new rules will come into effect at 6:00am on Sunday, November 14. The restrictions will put in place in An Hai Bac Ward that spans the parts from the north of the Han River Bridge and the west of Ngo Quyen Street to the border of Nai Hien Dong Ward along with the entire Nai Hien Dong Ward.

The authorities in Son Tra District was asked to take proactive measures in response to the developments of the COVID-19 situation in the two wards in a flexible and adaptable way in an effort to suppress the virus. The heed must be paid on continuing to offer COVID-19 vaccines to residents in these wards to help them protect themselves, their friends and family.

Certificates confirming full vaccination against COVID-19 or recovery from recent COVID-19 infection (typically during the last 6 months) will be compulsory for persons living in areas at alert level 3 moving into other areas at alert levels 1 and 2 in the city.

The second campus of the Le Do Junior High School located on Nguyen Dinh Street and the second facility of the Continuing Education Center No. 1 located on Nguyen Cong Tru Street are used as temporary designated quarantine facilities to prepare for potential COVID-19 surge in Son Tra District. Currently, the two facilities are no longer to be used for face to face instruction.

Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen said that the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines from the Ministry of Health is enough for Da Nang to administer second doses to all residents who received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to give them full protection.

She stressed the need to roll out COVID-19 vaccination program for Years 8 and 9 students as soon as possible.

Healthcare workers taking nasal swab samples of residents in Son Tra District for COVID-19 testing amid a rise in cases. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Developing COVID-19 testing plans suitable to the COVID-19 situation

Dr. Ton That Thanh, the Director of the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that tracers have found it very hard to track down COVID-19 contacts due to diverse and overlapping travel history of confirmed cases.

Mr Thanh highlighted the need to strengthen measures to control COVID-19 in new hotspots linked to coronavirus cases in order to contain the spread of the virus. The focus must be paid on conducting comprehensive contact tracing of each confirmed cases.

He also urged those who develop COVID-19 symptoms to immediately check with their nearest healthcare facilities to seek medical advice and requirements.

Mrs Tran Thanh Thuy, the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health said that the city is taking all necessary measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 re-introduction from people entering and returning from outside the city, as well as to curb the spread of the virus in the city.

Mrs Thuy said that recent screening program for household representatives and staff of drinking and eating establishments have caught many COVID-19 cases to help the city timely isolate them and provide prompt treatment for them.

The heath agency is developing COVID-19 testing plans in a safe and effective manner in order to reach those most at risk from infection to help prevent outbreaks and keep low cases in the city.

According to the Da Nang Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, rapid antigen tests on Friday were conducted at entry points for 271 persons, of whom, 21 tested positive for the virus. Since August 19, a total of 50 persons have found positive for COVID-19 at entry/exit points in Da Nang from 172,515 swab samples in scope of rapid antigen testing. However, only 30 out of the 50 cases have been confirmed by PCR tests, and have been hospitalized for treatment.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG –NGOC HA – LE HUNG – Translating by H.L