Amid the complex developments of COVID-19, Da Nang continues to roll out its screening programme from December 8 – 10. The main focus of screening program is to identify individuals who may be incubating infection, to isolate them promptly from the community, and initiate contact tracing to identify individuals who may have been exposed. While testing benefits the tested individual, main public health objective is to reduce risk to the wider community.

Testing will 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. People with jobs which require a lot of travel around Da Nang or require lots of interaction with other persons are eligible for COVID-19 testing. In addition, high priority will be given to offering tests to COVID-19 contacts along with immigrant workers and students staying in rental properties.

Targeted testing “One door one test” is being conducted for 30% of the families living in wards and communes with 50 infections or over per 100,000 people reported last 7 days.

Testing is being given to owners, managers, receptionists, service staff, kitchen staff, parking attendants, loading and unloading staff, delivery staff of all restaurants and food service establishments across the city. All staff at eating and drinking establishments, along with market stallholders, traders, workers and staff at the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf are eligible to get tested for COVID-19.

Testing is being offered to 30% of the staffers working in each area of restaurants, eateries, wet markets, and the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf.

Tests are also available to all people who have entered and returned to Da Nang from other parts of the country within the past 14 days but are not required to undergo mandatory quarantine and have yet to get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours before the mass screening program rollout.

In Lien Chieu District, COVID-19 testing will be not conducted for stallholders in Hoa Khanh wet market along with family members who got tested for the virus from December 5- 7.

Testing will not be given to people living in local locked down, those who are quarantined at home, along with individuals who have yet to get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours before the mass screening program rollout.

The Da Nang government has asked the health agency to roll out screening programme in safe and effective practices in a bid to quarantine on the narrowest possible scale with the strictest and fastest measures but effectively control the spread of the virus.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L