A medical worker at a laboratory in Đà Nẵng. Medical samples of two British COVID-19 patients tested negative after a week of treatment on March 13.

The two patients did not suffer a fever, cough or trouble breathing during their period at the hospital from March 8 to 12. X-rays of their lungs showed a normal state of the organs.

Director of the Đà Nẵng's Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Dr Tôn Thất Thạnh, confirmed to Việt Nam News, saying the two patients need to undergo more tests and the final result will be released next week.

The third COVID-19 patient in Đà Nẵng (patient number 35), a woman, did not display any signs of fever, cough or trouble breathing during treatment from March 10 to 12.

Her medical sample was taken on Friday, and test results will be available next week, Thạnh said.

According to a report from the city’s health department on Friday, 202 medical samples of people who had close contact with the three COVID-19 patients in Đà Nẵng were all negative.

It said these people will be kept in isolation for 14 days.

At the city’s people’s council meeting on Friday, the city approved an emergency fund of VNĐ200 billion (US$8.7 million) for medical equipment and facilities as well as aid for patients and local residents at isolation centres.

All schools and universities in the city will be closed until the end of March.

Sixteen people in neighbouring Quảng Nam Province, who had contact with the two British patients (in treatment at Đà Nẵng), tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 according to results released on Thursday.

A female caddie, who spent five hours in close contact with the two British patients, also tested negative for COVID-19. The two British patients were on a golf trip in the province on March 5.

The Quảng Nam provincial health department said 40 people in close contact with patient number 30 in the province, all tested negative.

A source from the central hospital in Huế City said three COVID-19 patients (two patients from Quảng Nam Province, and one found in Huế City) are healthy.

Huế City has isolated 179 people who were in close contact with patient number 30, and 26 medical samples of the contacted people tested negative for COVID-19. No more new cases have been found in the province.

The province also closed all schools and universities through March.

Employee, helper and in-law of Vietnam’s 34th coronavirus patient test positive

Three female residents who were in close contact with Vietnam’s 34th coronavirus patient in the south-central province of Binh Thuan were confirmed to have caught the pathogen, the Ministry of Health said in a statement today, March 11.

Since the confirmation of the 34th patient who was recently on a business trip to the United States, the provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking down those individuals in contact with her to keep them under watch.

As many as 15 samples taken from them were later sent to the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang City. As a result, three people tested positive for the virus.

The 36th patient is a 64-year-old woman who is a domestic helper for the businesswoman while the 37th patient is a 37-year-old employee of the businesswoman. The 38th one is her daughter-in-law.

The three new patients who all reside in Binh Thuan Province show symptoms of fever and cough. They are receiving treatment at the provincial General Hospital.

The businesswoman traveled through South Korea on February 22 while en route to the United States. One week later, she had a stopover at Doha airport in Qatar during her return trip before arriving at HCMC-based Tan Son Nhat airport in Vietnam on March 2.

She was admitted to the general hospital on March 9 and later confirmed to have caught the flu-like disease.

As such, the number of coronavirus infections in the country has so far amounted to 38 in 12 provinces and cities. Of the figure, 22 patients are being treated while the first 16 patients were already discharged from hospital after testing negative twice for the virus.

Hanoi plans on communal quarantine measures

Hà Nội authorities isolated Trúc Bạch Street after a COVID-19 patient staying on the street was confirmed.

Hà Nội People’s Committee has ordered its subsidiaries to develop plans to quarantine a whole village or commune in case of emergency to control and prevent COVID-19.

Nguyễn Đức Chung, head of the city's People's Committee, issued Document No 854/UBND-KGVX on accelerating preventative measures over the SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak including restricting the organisation of meetings and mass gatherings as well as applying IT solutions in administrative procedures, education and health declaration.

The Department of Health was asked to be in charge of coordinating medical facilities, zoning, inspecting and treating infected cases, arranging quarantine areas at hospitals to isolate people in close contact with COVID-19 patients and those returning from infected areas who suffer fever, cough and shortness of breath within 14 days.

The department was also urged to prepare quarantine facilities besides those of military and police, ensure medical supplies and instruct localities to build quarantine plans over villages and communes.

All people who spread fake news, triggering social panic are asked to be strictly handled, according to the document.

The Department of Tourism will work with hotels and lodging service providers to isolate occupants when needed.

In case foreigners who are kept in isolation want to leave Việt Nam, they will have to notify local authorities, undergo medical examination, wear masks, disinfect hands regularly and go to airports on private vehicles to limit contact with other people.

Districts’ People's Committees are responsible for collaborating with related agencies to identify lodging of all passengers on flight No VN0054 from London to Hà Nội on March 3 and people in close contact with them for quarantine.

Over 20 artists invited to draw posters on COVID-19 prevention

A painting of a student from central Ha Tinh province (Photo: vietnamnet.vn)

The Department of Grassroots Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on March 12 it had invited over 20 painters to draw posters portraying COVID-19 prevention and control.

Head of the department Ninh Thi Thu Huong said the painters can submit an unlimited number of posters, with a 54cm x 79cm dimension, to the department from now until 5pm on March 15.

The department will choose the most outstanding works and then print them and send them to every ward and commune in Ha Noi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition, the department will make copies of the posters and send them to other localities, Huong added.

COVID-19 is developing complicatedly all over the world. Vietnam has so far recorded 44 cases, of whom 16 have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Cruise ship denied of docking in HCM City amid COVID-19 outbreak

Cruise ship Silver Spirit. (Photo: Pinterest)

The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has decided to not allow a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship to dock in the southern hub in order to ease the risk of the spread of COVID-19, the committee’s office said on March 13.

The 423 passengers of cruise liner Silver Spirit, crewed by 403, including several Italians, were initially scheduled to visit many tourist sites in the city.

According to the municipal centre for disease control, HCM City has reported four cases of COVID-19 so far, three of them had completely recovered. All of the 115 suspected cases in the locality have tested negative for the virus.

Also on March 13, the committee decided to continue keeping educational institutions in the locality close through April 5 over coronavirus concern./.VNS/VNA

Another British passenger tests positive for coronavirus, the 31st case in Vietnam

A 49-year-old British man, who was on the same flight with N.H.N., Vietnam’s 17th Covid-19 patient, has been confirmed to be positive for the virus, becoming the 31st coronavirus patient in the country.  

More than $150,000 allocated for COVID-19 tests in Hanoi

Hanoi People’s Committee has allocated VNĐ3.5 billion (US$150,600) from the city’s budget for COVID-19 tests.