At the regular meeting on Covid-19 prevention and control held on July 27, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said there was no evidence that all four newly confirmed cases in Danang were infected from the same source. They may have been infected by different people. The virus found in Danang this time is the new mutation.

Long said community infection might have started since early July and many people might have been infected. They have found 12 new suspected cases. The situation is very complicated and may spread to other cities and provinces. He had talked with the Chairman of Danang People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho about the possibility of implementing social distancing rules in Danang again.

The Ministry of Health agreed to lock down Danang Hospital, C Hospital and the Orthopaedic and Physical Rehabilitation Hospital of Danang.

Since the patient zero in Danang hasn't been found so they will ask anyone who has come to Danang in the past week to self-isolate. Those who have coughs and fevers will be tested.

"The biggest outbreak is from three hospitals that are located close to each other. The situation is similar to the situation at Bach Mai Hospital," Long said.

Vietnam tightens Covid-19 preventive measures for tranport services  

All travelers by air, road, sea and trail across the country are required to wear face masks and have their body temperature checked.

The Ministry of Transport requested on the evening of July 26 transport service providers to strictly comply with Covid-19 prevention and control measures after the novel coronavirus reappeared in the community in central Vietnam.

All drivers and passengers are required to wear face masks at train and bus stations and on board.

Before boarding, passengers must make electronic medical declarations and have their body temperature checked and wash their hands with disinfectant, except passengers on taxis and buses.

Authorities recommended limited conversation, eating and drinking during the trip. Drivers are encouraged to leave windows open to allow natural ventilation.

During the trip, the passenger needs to contact attendants or health authorities via two hotlines 1900 3228 and 1900 9095 for instructions.

All such conditions were no longer required for passengers after the national social distancing campaign in late March was lifted. Only air passengers were required to wear face masks.

During the stay-at-home orders, transport service providers were asked to reduce trips and flights and limit the number of passengers on each trip.

Vietnamese PM orders drastic measures to fight COVID-19 in Da Nang and other localities

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has underlined the importance of implementing a range of measures to prevent the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from spreading in Da Nang and other localities nationwide. 

His remarks came during a cabinet meeting held on July 27 alongside the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, with the Government leader emphasizing the need to focus on handling three major points of infection in the central city of Da Nang, including Da Nang C Hospital,Da Nang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital, and Da Nang General Hospital.

Following three people contracting COVID-19 in Da Nang along with the detection of 12 other suspected cases, the Government has ordered a new period of social distancing in the central city.

This comes following the People’s Committee of Da Nang on the morning of July 26 also announcing a number of measures aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19

Local residents have been asked to wear masks when going out, to thoroughly wash their hands with soap, to keep a safe distance when coming into contact with others, and to not gather in crowds exceeding 30 people.

The local steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control has also proposed that all residents inform authorities if they are planning on leaving the city.

All ceremonies involving people gathering in a public place, including religious ceremonies and sporting events, are to be suspended.

Furthermore, non-essential business activities such as entertainment centres, beauty salons, spas, karaoke bars, massage parlous, and nightclubs will also be temporarily closed.

PM Phuc stated that the epidemic situation is becoming increasingly complicated amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases and the emergence of newly detected cases of the SARS-COV-2 virus in Da Nang. Most notably, the health condition of the latest patients is becoming more serious with both individuals needing the aid of ventilators after becoming infected by the virus.

In an effort to cope with the developing situation, the cabinet leader called on all residents to remain vigilant and take drastic epidemic prevention steps in order to prevent the situation worsening throughout the country.

Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long stated that the epidemic could have reappeared in early July, whilst it has yet to be confirmed where the latest outbreak in the community originated from.

In light of recent developments, the Ministry of Health has activated the highest possible measures in a bid to fight the epidemic by asking Da Nang to co-ordinate all efforts to trace the source of community transmission.

The Ministry of Health also suggested that all citizens who have been to Da Nang since July 1 should swiftly complete a health declaration with their local administrations, keep self-monitoring, and remain in self-isolation.

MoH issues urgent notice to find people in contact with COVID-19 patients

The Ministry of Health has issued an urgent notice to trace people in close contact with the latest three community transmission cases of COVID-19 in the central region with the source of transmission remaining unknown.

These patients were known to have visited three hospitals, including Hospital C Đà Nẵng from July 20 to 22, the Đà Nẵng General Hospital’s Internal Medicine Department from July 16 to 18 and the Intensive Care Department on July 23, and the Đà Nẵng Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Hospital’s canteen, drug store, Room 401 and the B zone between July 14 and 16 and July 20 and 21.

At 3pm on July 17, one of the patients took the bus from Đà Nẵng City to Quảng Ngãi City, and travelled from Quảng Ngãi City to Đà Nẵng City at 3am on July 20. The patient took the bus to the Đà Nẵng Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Hospital at 6.30am on the same day. All the buses were operated by Thanh Hường Bus Service.

The three patients were also reported to have taken the SE7 train from Đà Nẵng City to Quảng Ngãi City at 11pm on July 21; visited the Hòa Cường wholesale market at 65 Lê Nổ Street in Đà Nẵng City in the mornings of July 8 to 12; visited a Cô Nở street food vendor on Nguyễn Thuỵ Road in Quảng Ngãi City on the morning of July 18; joined the New House Celebration in Nguyễn Thông Road in Quảng Ngãi City on July 19; and went to the Labour Cultural House on Hùng Vương Road in Quảng Ngãi City between 8pm and 9pm on July 23.

The ministry requested those visiting these areas during the mentioned timeframes to immediately contact local centres for disease control and prevention for guidance on health monitoring.

People in close contact with the three patients needed to self-quarantine at home. 

The ministry’s hotline 1900 9095, the hotline of Đà Nẵng City’s Disease Control Centre 1900 988975 and of the Quảng Ngãi City’s Disease Control Centre 0914 021 022 are available for guidance.

Three residents in Đà Nẵng and Quảng Ngãi cities have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 from community transmission, with the source of transmission remaining unknown. 

The latest cases have raised Việt Nam’s COVID-19 tally to 420. 

Of all the people who have contracted the virus so far, 365 have been given the all-clear, accounting for 87.3 per cent and no fatalities have been reported.

At present, 11,187 people are placed under medical surveillance, of whom 220 are at hospitals, 10,193 centralised quarantine camps, and 774 at places of residence.

Experts report new type of Covid-19 in Da Nang

Preliminary epidemiological investigation showed that four out of five Covid-19 cases confirmed over the past weekend are linked to three hospitals in the central city of Da Nang.

The above news was released by experts at the meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control this morning.

These health facilities, as the experts said, are Da Nang Hospital, Da Nang Hospital C, and Da Nang Orthopedic and Physical Rehabilitation Hospital.

To prevent the spread of the disease, experts suggested all people who return home from Da Nang and are linked to the aforesaid hospitals must be quarantined for 14 days while health declaration must be mandatory for the others.

Genome analsysis showed that this is a new type of Covid-19, which is more infectious, said Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

The Ministry of Health has sent best experts to Da Nang to help the central city contain the oubtreak and find out infection sources as soon as possible.

Over the past weekend, three residents in Da Nang and one resident in Quang Nam were confirmed positive for Covid-19. They are patients numbered 416, 418, 419, and 420, of whom patient 416 and patient 418 are in severe health conditions as they need ventilators.

Vietnam tightens control over immigration amid new local coronavirus infections

Shortly before Vietnam detected locally infected coronavirus cases in Danang, police found dozens of illegal Chinese immigrants in the city.

The detection of new coronavirus cases over the past two days after more than three months without community transmission has prompted Vietnam to step up a crackdown on illegal immigration.

Danang, which confirmed a new locally-transmitted infection in the city on July 25, has reported the illegal entry of dozens of Chinese nationals in the city and the neighboring province of Quang Nam in the last two weeks.

One day after the first case confirmed, the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control asked authorized agencies to toughen up immigration to prevent imported transmission.

The Ministry of Defense has been requested to continue control over borders, mostly trails to counter illegal immigration.

The Ministry of Public Security asks local police to keep a close eye on illegal immigrants and foreigners who are working and staying in the localities, including in lodging facilities, workshops, and training centers.

Heads of cities and provinces ask local residents to report any cases relating to illegal immigration to enable local authorities to proceed with quarantine and testing.

In a latest move, the Border Guard Command has set up eight working groups to check the border control mission in the provinces of Lang Son, Lai Chau, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Quang Ninh that border China, and An Giang and Tay Ninh that border Cambodia.

Lieut. General Hoang Xuan Chien, deputy defense minister, asks the border forces to mobilize guards to 250 major checkpoints.

Over the past six months, Vietnam has set up nearly 1,600 checkpoints along the border with more than 9,400 people in action.

On July 25, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked armed forces to continue tightening control over immigration in border areas and ordered the Ministry of Public Security to investigate the illegal immigration in Danang, Quang Nam and Quang Ninh over the past time.

761 people test negative after close contact with COVID-19 patients

The Da Nang Center for Disease Control issued a statement on July 27 that all 761 people who had come into contact with the latest novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients in the city had tested negative for the virus.

Despite the haul of negative test results, each of the individuals are still required to remain under quarantine at public hospitals and isolation sites for a further 14 days.

Moreover, the health sector will continue to investigate and apply isolation measures for all people who came into direct contact with COVID-19 patients, known as F1s, with samples being taken from individuals in order to test for the virus.

With regard to patient 418 and patient 420, the Ministry of Health has urged all people who recently visited Hospital C, Da Nang General Hospital, or Da Nang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital in the central city to immediately contact a medical centre in order to complete a health check.

As a way of stamping out the latest outbreak, the health sector will collect 10,000 blood samples from the local community in Da Nang, according to a meeting held this morning at a local Government office.

In addition, the results of 4,000 test samples taken from staff in the city will be announced on July 28.

Following the detection of the latest COVID-19 cases, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has requested that local authorities take immediate measures as a means of curbing the spread of the virus in the community. Moreover, every effort should be made to strengthen the central city’s testing and treatment capacity whilst simultaneously intensifying investigation and epidemic supervision, particularly in high-risk areas.

This comes after Da Nang announced the re-imposition of social distancing measures from July 26.

Health Ministry: 420th Covid-19 patient did visit HCMC

Vietnam’s latest Covid-19 patient, the 420th case, had visited many areas including an apartment building in HCMC before she was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Health Ministry, which issued an emergency notice on Sunday detailing the travel history of the 71-year-old patient, who was a locally-transmitted case.

Between June 21 and July 8, the Danang resident visited her child at an apartment building in HCMC’s District 11.

On July 8, she returned to the central city of Danang, where she lives with her husband, son and daughter-in-law. She has another daughter living in the city whom she has not met since her return to Danang from HCMC.

Along with her husband, she had also shopped at a Danang wholesale market several days before she showed signs of a fever.

On July 12, she started complaining of a fever and chest pain. During that time, she visited her younger sister’s house on September 2 Street in Hoa Cuong Nam Ward of Danang’s Hai Chau District.

On July 16, her husband went to a chemist on Hoang Dieu Street in the city to buy medicine for her.

After taking the medicine for five days without feeling better, the patient visited Hospital C Danang for a medical check up and returned home, after which three relatives from Quang Nam Province visited her.

The 420th patient was admitted to Hospital C Danang and has been receiving medical treatment there to date.

The ministry noted that the source of transmission remains unknown. 

New Covid-19 cases in Danang may be from foreigners illegally entering Vietnam

The source of the Covid-19 transmission in Danang City may have come from foreigners who have illegally entered Vietnam, competent agencies concluded during a meeting held by the Border Guard High Command on July 26.

A representative of the Department of Border Gates said that since June 1, illegal immigration to Vietnam has surged, with 4,360 entering the country through small paths mainly in Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh and Lao Cai provinces bordering China.

Due to the sharp rise in illegal entry and the detection of new community transmissions, Hoang Xuan Chien, commander of the Border Guard, announced that the Border Guard High Command had put in place all measures to prevent Covid-19 transmissions nationwide from July 26.

The border guard forces will tighten control over immigration at border gates and block small paths to stop any illegal entry.

The border guard is also cooperating with the local police to initiate criminal proceedings against those involved in human trafficking rings.

Speaking at the meeting, Lieutenant General Chien insisted that the competent forces must effectively prevent illegal immigration to the country and send those who enter Vietnam to concentrated quarantine centers. It is necessary to tighten control to eliminate the community transmission of Covid-19.

Quang Ngai temporarily stops educational activities amidst fresh Covid-19 cases

Director of the Department of Quang Ngai Do Van Phu yesterday announced to temporarily stop all on-site educational activities in the province from July 27 amidst fresh Covid-19 cases. 

Day-care centers, private centers, foreign language centers in the province will temporarily close down for prevention of Covid-19.

In regard to the approaching graduation examination scheduled to take place from August 8, the Departments planned to separate students into small groups to keep safe distance between them.
Quang Ngai is isolating 269 Vietnamese people returning from countries hit by coronavirus pandemic.

Two Covid-19 patients in Danang remain in critical condition

Two men infected with Covid-19 virus in the central city of Danang have remained in severe condition and one of them is undergoing the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

According to the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Patient 418, 61 years old from Hai Chau District, is using a ventilator and feeding tube. The Covid-19 infection has caused him serious respiratory problems, heart and kidney failure; meanwhile, he has also contracted high blood pressure and diabetes.  

He is now being treated at Danang Hospital.

Over the past one month, he did not go out of Danang and did not contact any foreigner. He went to Danang Hospital on July 5 to take care of his dad. 

After respiratory-related symptoms, he was sent to the hospital on July 21 and on Sunday, doctors officially confirmed his Covid-19 infection.

Patient 416, who is a 57-year-old man from Lien Chieu District is also receiving the treatment at Danang Hospital with the ECMO support.

On July 20, he came to the hospital for a medical check-up following a cough, fever and being tired. He was then tested for Covid-19 for five consecutive times.

This is the third Covid-19 patient in Vietnam using ECMO after Patient 19, a 64-year-old Vietnamese woman and Patient 91, a British pilot, both discharged after treatment.

Deputy PM directs resolutely preventing illegal entry into Vietnam

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has required ministries, agencies and localities to heighten alert and resolutely prevent illegal entry into Vietnam amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent discovery of several cases of Chinese illegally entering Vietnam.

The requirement was highlighted in a document announcing instructions made by the Deputy PM during a recent national teleconference to review performance of the Government’s Steering Committee on Crime Prevention and Control and the National Steering Committee on Fighting Crimes, Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeits (Steering Committee 389) and outline their future tasks.

The Deputy PM also outlined key tasks in the time ahead for ministries, agencies and localities in order to make more substantial results in the fight against crime, smuggling and trade frauds, which he said is an important and regular political task.

Those who hold the top positions in sectors and localities must bear responsibility for the fight in the sector and locality under their management.

He instructed the continued revision of legal regulations related to the fight against crimes, smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeits; the use of advanced technology to share information among agencies involved, and expansion of international cooperation, including proposing negotiations and signing of international conventions and agreements in the field.

The Ministry of Public Security was urged to crack down on crimes of all types, especially the illegal entry of foreigners into the country.

The Ministry of National Defence must enhance border control to prevent illegal cross-border transport of goods and movement of people, including at sea.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was requested to step up administrative reform, continue effectively carrying out the campaign “Vietnamese people prioritise Vietnamese goods”, and improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods.

The Office of the Steering Committee 389’s standing board will inspect and direct ministries, agencies and localities in the effort./.

No new COVID-19 infections recorded on July 27 morning

No more new COVID-19 infection cases were reported in Vietnam on July 27 morning, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The total number of infections still stood at 420, of whom 276 are imported and were quarantined upon arrival.

A report of the steering committee’s Treatment Sub-committee showed that 365 patients, or 86.9 percent, have recovered fully.

Among the active patients, five tested negative for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once and three negative at least twice.

There are currently 11,954 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entering Vietnam from pandemic-hit regions being quarantined, including 232 at hospitals, 10,922 at concentrated quarantine facilities, and 800 at home.

COVID-19: Over 310 citizens flown home from RoK

More than 310 Vietnamese citizens were brought home from the Republic of Korea (RoK) on a Vietnam Airlines flight on July 26.

The flight was arranged by Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK, the national flag carrier, and relevant RoK agencies.

The passengers are the elderly, children aged under 18, pregnant women, those in poor health conditions, workers with expired labour contracts, and students with no accommodations due to hostel closure.

The Vietnamese Embassy sent staff to the airport to assist them.

Strict security and safety measures were enforced during the flight to protect passengers’ health and prevent the spread of the disease.

Immediately after the flight landed at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, all passengers and crew members were given health check and quarantined as regulated.

Following the Prime Minister’s directions, domestic authorities and Vietnam’s overseas representative offices continue arranging more flights to take Vietnamese citizens home, depending on the citizens’ need and the country’s quarantine capacity.

More than 240 Vietnamese citizens brought home from Singapore

Vietnam’s authorities, the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore, budget carrier Vietjet Air, and relevant Singaporean offices arranged a flight to bring more than 240 Vietnamese citizens home on July 27.

The passengers are mostly the elderly, pregnant women, sick people, children aged under 18, workers with expired visas and labour contracts, and stranded tourists.

Vietjet Air strictly carried out security and safety measures during the flight to protect passengers’ health and prevent the spread of the disease.

Immediately after the flight landed at Can Tho International Airport in the Mekong Delta city of the same name, all passengers and crew members were given health check and brought to concentrated quarantine facilities.

Under the Prime Minister’s direction, domestic authorities and Vietnam’s overseas representative offices will arrange more flights to take Vietnamese citizens home, depending on the citizens’ need and the country’s quarantine capacity.

VNA/Hanoitimes/VNN/VNS/VOV/SGT/Dtinews