Da Nang’s COVID-19 daily caseload has continued to rise with 169 new cases confirmed on Wednesday, December 8, bringing the city’s total tally to 2,007 since October 16 when the city saw the resurgence of COVID-19 community-based cases.

It is concerning that 69 out of the 169 new infections were acquired in the community, the highest number recorded on a single day over recent months, raising public fear over further spread of the virus.

Amongst the 69 community-acquired patients, there were 39 infections detected via mass testing for COVID-19 applied to local household representatives, known as the ‘One door- one test’ campaign, namely 23 cases in Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, six in Hoa Minh Ward and 10 in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, all in Lien Chieu District.

Also, a militia member participating in COVID-19 prevention and control belonging to the People's Committee of Thuan Phuoc Ward, Hai Chau District, two traders operating at the Hoa Khanh Market, a medical staffer at the Lien Chieu District Medical Centre and an employee art the UAC Company were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus.

The remaining community-acquired patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 through tests conducted at some medical facilities citywide. In detail, seven cases were found at the Da Nang-based Hospital 199 under the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, five at the Lien Chieu District Medical Centre, three at the Hoa Khanh Clinic and one each at the Phuc Khang Medical Centre, the Binh Dan Hospital, the Hoan My Hospital, the Da Nang General Hospital, the Tam Tri Hospital, the clinics of Thien Nhan Y Duc, An Duc and Thien Phuoc Clinic, and the Cam Le District Medical Centre.

Apart from the detection of 69 aforementioned community infections, the city reported 100 cases found under managed isolation: 17 infections in centralised quarantine facilities, 60 during at-home quarantine and 23 in locked-down sites.

In particular, 120 out of the 169 cases were likely to spread to the community, local experts warned.

During the day, some infection chains continued to record many new cases such as Thuan Phuoc company with cases, Hoa Khanh Market with three, Tan Truong Thinh Company with four, alley K317 Nguyen Phuoc Nguyen with four and Matrix Company with five.

Amongst the local districts, Lien Chieu recorded the highest number of COVID-19 infections on Wednesday with 84, followed Son Tra with 23, Thanh Khe with 14, Hoa Vang with 12, Cam Le with eight, Hai Chau with six and Ngu Hanh Son with three.

Also on the same day, a combined total of 34,738 local residents across the city had their nasal swab samples taken for COVID-19 testing, 32,888 of whom tested for the virus via the RT-PCR technique whilst the rest were subject to the rapid antigen testing.

Up to now, of the vaccinated people throughout Da Nang, 966,311 have received the first shots of COVID-19 vaccines whilst 881,925 have got the second jabs against the highly contagious disease.

There are currently 230 completely- blockaded residential areas, putting 1,526 households with a combined total of 9,556 people under lockdown.

A combined total of 642 people are being put under compulsory quarantine in 17 centralised facilities.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG- Translating by A.THU