Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairman Ngo Thi Kim Yen on Tuesday highlighted the need to bring the coronavirus vaccine directly to vulnerable communities with mobile clinics at a meeting of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen urged the health agency to deploy mobile units to reach seniors who find it challenging to visit a vaccination site to help them protect from the deadly disease at Tuesday's meeting. Photo: LE HUNG

Data published by the health agency that some adults in Da Nang, mainly seniors, have yet to get their first dose as they find it challenging to visit a vaccination site. Hence, the agency was asked to deliver coronavirus vaccines directly to the community, to those seniors who need to get this vaccine but are unable to travel to a vaccination center.

Mrs Yen urged healthcare workers to knock on doors in public housing complexes in an attempt to sign up older residents to get vaccinated in an attempt to protect them from COVID-19 and help them from getting seriously sick.

She also pointed out the fact that COVID-19 has spread to Hoa Vang District as  many workers from industrial parks in Lien Chieu District became infected while returning home in Hoa Vang District, subsequently testing positive for the virus.

Mrs Yen stated that an improper risk assessment can lead to unfortunate consequences in areas citywide, thereby asking authorities at local level to take appropriate measures to beat COVID-19.

Authorities at local level must identify eligible primary close contacts for home quarantine, as well as require those who are unable to quarantine at home to stay in schools used as managed quarantine facilities in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus, Mrs Yen emphasized.

The Authority of the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Parks (IPs) was urged to submit its plan to set up mobile medical stations in Da Nang IP in Son Tra District and Hoa Khanh IP in Lien Chieu District to isolate and treat infected patients who are workers in the two IPs.

Doctor Ton That Thanh, the Director of the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that 157 more people were released from the field hospital in the west of Da Nang and the Lung Hospital on Tuesday, December 14, after being treated for COVID-19.

Da Nang has till date recorded 3,394 cases of COVID-19 after it has faced COVID-19 resurgence since October 16.

Currently, 1,766 infected patients are being treated at the field hospital, 6 are under treatment in the Hoa Vang District Medical Centre, and 88 others are receiving treatment at the Lung Hospital

Overall, 1,860 people, including 8 requiring critical care, are being treated for the coronavirus in Da Nang’s hospitals, of whom, 62 tested negative for the virus once.

In addition, 21 COVID-19 patients with mild illness in Da Nang are currently being quarantined to recover at home.

Reporting by LE HUNG – translating by H.L