Da Nang recently recorded COVID-19 cases that returned home from pandemic-affected areas. The relaxation of isolation and quarantine rules in line with Ministry of Health’s guidance has placed great pressure on those who participate in COVID-19 prevention and control work and local residents who are required to increase compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

A residential area in Duong ​​​​Tu Giang Street in Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District is put under complete lockdown, no entry, no exit until the situation improves after a COVID-19 case in the community was detected due to the breaches of home isolation rules. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Upholding the role of COVID-19 Monitoring Team

The Khue My Ward authorities in Ngu Hanh Son District has filed the petition for violation of home quarantine rules after a 35 year-old man returning home from Ho Chi Minh City tested positive for COVID-19. He left home and visited many places while he was required to self-isolate at home.

Mr Nguyen Cong Hoa, the Chairman of the Khue My Ward People's Committee said that drawing lessons from this community case due to violations of home quarantine rules, the ward has set up a team to keep a close watch on people returning from epidemic- affected areas around the clock. Team members consist of police officers, civil protection personnel, along with guards from residential groups.

Mr Mai Nien, the Vice Chairman of the Ngu Hanh Son District People's Committee, the district is monitoring 95 returnees from outside Da Nang in line with the guidelines from the Da Nang government.

He highlighted the important role of COVID-19 community taskforce and COVID-19 Monitoring Team in keeping a close watch on people entering and returning to Da Nang in their local areas in an attempt to reduce the chance of these people to bring coronavirus into the city. These people will face tough punishments if they are found breaching the city’s COVID-19 guidelines.  

Mr Vo Truong Hai, the Chairman of the Hai Chau 1 Ward People's Committee, Hai Chau District, said that the local authorities recently lifted lockdown order on an residential area located at the alley K166 on Hung Vuong Street, involving 13 families with a combined total of 63 people after 2 persons returning home from Ho Chi Minh City tested positive for the virus. Currently, 19 persons returning to Da Nang from affected areas are self-isolating at home in the ward under a close monitoring of local authorities.

Mr Hai has asked for more support from relevant agencies to help his locality effectively manage arrivals and returnees from outside Da Nang. He highlighted the need to educate the public in a bid to increase their awareness and willingness to comply voluntarily with the recommended precautionary measures to keep themselves and others safe and healthy.

Enhancing enforcement of COVID-19 rules

According to Doctor Ton That Thanh, the Director of the municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, on average, there are daily close to 100 persons  who enter and return to Da Nang from epidemic-hit localities, of whom, 12 are being placed under quarantine in designated facilities, and more than 680 others are self- isolating at home.

Da Nang has introduced different rules which are applied to people entering or returning to Da Nang from different alert level areas across the country as blanket policy to prevent re-introduction of COVID-19 from these people in line with the government’s guidance issued on October 27.

Mr Thanh highlighted the vital role of authorities at local level in enhancing surveillance of persons who are self-isolating at home to make sure that they are fully comply with COVID-19 guidelines during their home quarantine period.

Doctor Tran Thanh Thuy, the Acting Director of the municipal Department of Health, said that the health agency has given advice to the municipal administration to conduct COVID-19 testing for arrivals and returnees from affected areas in efforts to find all cases to take timely measures to stop the spread of the virus.

Municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Ngo Thi Kim Yen stressed the need for enhanced surveillance of people entering and returning to Da Nang from areas with the highest number of COVID-19 cases such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An. The focus must be on conducting coronavirus testing for those who face a higher risk of potential exposure to the virus and residents living in places where people return home from areas at alert level 3 and level 4.

The heed must be paid on keeping a close watch on these people to make sure that they are sticking to the recommended precautionary measures while they are self-isolating at home or face strictest punishments for non-compliance.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – translating by H.L