Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh called on government officials and citizens across the city, especially those working in infection prevention and control, to remain on high alert and continue to follow the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health in a bid to curb the spread of the virus during his meeting with members of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control held late on Monday afternoon, December 6.

Chairman Chinh highlighted the need to tighten anti-COVID-19 measures amid a rise in COVID-19 cases during Monday’s meeting. Photo: LE HUNG

Chairman Chinh stated that COVID-19 has spread to wet markets, production facilities and gathering places across the city, thereby urging authorities at local level to take action to suppress the resurgence of local outbreaks and prevent further transmission. He highlighted the need to enhance surveillance of primary close contacts that are being quarantined at home, as well as increase enforcement of face mask and social distancing rules along with other COVID-19 regulations in crowded places.

Mr Chinh remarked that strict observance of the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health is compulsory for businesses, departments, agencies and public crowded places.

The city leader stressed the need for enhanced monitoring of the schools which are moving to in-person learning, and early detection of suspected COVID-19 cases in schools in order to stop the spread of the disease.

Local leadership was tasked to set up COVID-19 monitoring teams to keep a close watch on primary close contacts in order to make sure that they are adhering to home quarantine rules or face harsh punishments for non- adherence.

The health agency was asked to conduct mass testing for people living in high-risk areas and speed up the city’s COVID-19 vaccinations.

Lien Chieu District authorities were urged to take all necessary measures to reduce the number of tenants staying in rented properties, especially that of workers in rental housing in order to allow space for social distancing amid a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen asked authorities at local level to tighten controls at local locked down areas, as well as ramp up contact tracing, isolating and testing efforts in a bid to control the spread within their communities.

Mrs Yen highlighted the need to quickly conduct testing for stallholders in Hoa Khanh wet market to allow positive cases caught as this venue has been identified as a potential exposure location.

Doctor Ton That Thanh, the Director of the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that 45 more people were released from the field hospital in the west of the city and the Lung Hospital on Monday, December 6, after being treated for COVID-19.

Da Nang has till date recorded 1,697 cases of COVID-19 after it has faced COVID-19 resurgence since October 16.

Currently, 851 infected patients are being treated at the field hospital, and 110 others are receiving treatment at the Lung Hospital.

Overall, 961 people, including 5 requiring critical care, are being treated for the coronavirus in Da Nang’s hospitals, of whom, 39 tested negative for the virus once while tests on 13 others came back negative twice.

Reporting by LE HUNG – translating by H.L