Localities step up measures against new COVID-19 outbreaks

* On July 29, the Department of Health of Dak Lak Province announced its first COVID-19 case and listed the places where the 21-year-old female patient visited in Dak Lak.

The province has implemented a series of disease prevention and control measures, starting from 0:00 on July 30, including restricting crowds, events and activities gathering over 20 people in one room, not allowing gatherings of over 20 people outside offices, schools and hospitals, stopping religious activities with 20 or more people, and halting all cultural, sports and recreational activities in public places.

Locals have been warned not to go out unless necessary and to strictly implement measures to prevent and control COVID-19, such as regularly washing hands with soap or disinfectant solution, keeping a minimum distance of 1 m when in contact with others, and wearing a mask when going out, on public transport and in crowded places.

The province has put into operation two concentrated isolation camps for medical teams, doctors and other objects in need of isolation.

* On the same day, Hanoi authorities requested screening, zoning and testing for local residents who returned from Da Nang and Quang Nam from July 8. By Saturday (August 1), the testing for such group must be completed, according to Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung.

At an online meeting on the afternoon of July 29, Chung recommended that locals should not be subjective and caught off guard, but also should not be too worried. He requested localities to restart activities of COVID-19 Steering Committees at all levels, while local medical examination and treatment establishments were urged to strictly comply with regulations to avoid cross infection.

Passengers at My Dinh Bus Station in Hanoi are asked to sanitise hands and have their body temperature checked. (Photo: NDO/Quoc Toan)

* Also on July 29, many localities conducted medical control and isolation for people returning from Da Nang and Quang Nam – the two localities with most new COVID-19 infections detected in the current new wave.

Nghe An Province has identified 28 close contacts of the 435th COVID-19 patient. All of them have been tested and showed negative for the coronavirus.

Thanh Hoa Province has isolated five people suffering from fever, cough and shortness of breath, including three travelling from Da Nang.

Hai Phong City has received 15 suspected cases from Da Nang, with clinical manifestations of fever, cough and shortness of breath. There are currently 14 cases showing negative test results, while one is awaiting their results.

The Mekong Delta provinces of Ben Tre and Tien Giang are isolating over 700 locals who returned from Da Nang. In addition, Tien Giang health sector has carried out SARS-CoV-2 tests for 240 Vietnamese citizens returning from Singapore, who are under mandatory isolation at a local military-run quarantine camp.

Quang Ngai Province has traced 170 close contacts of the 419th patient. Thai Binh Province is currently isolating 10 people who returned from Da Nang. Dong Nai Province has screened nearly 1,400 people who travelled from Da Nang and Quang Ngai in recent days.

Thua Thien Hue authorities conduct medical checks on travellers from the epidemic-hit areas to Hue City at a quarantine post in Lang Co, Phu Loc District.

On the evening of July 29, Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee issued an emergency document, asking for suspension of non-essential service and business activities, such as karaoke, bars, discos and cinemas, from 0:00 on July 30, while also stopping festive activities and crowded cultural and sports events. Locals are required to wear masks, wash their hands and restrict gatherings. As of 18:30 on the evening of July 29, the province had not detected any new positive cases during the new outbreaks. The local authorities are urgently tracing and requesting medical declarations for all subjects returning from the epidemic-hit areas from July 10.

* The Danang Youth Union has presented medical supplies and necessities to an isolation camp in Lien Chieu District. Accordingly, the union gave 10,000 medical masks, 1,000 hand sanitisers and other medical supplies and goods to the quarantine camp. The Da Nang Red Cross Society has also launched a support programme to assist those on duty in combatting the epidemic.

Responding to the call from the Da Nang Department of Health, over 740 health workers and medical students have voluntarily registered to participate in the prevention and control of COVID-19. The department plans to allocate these health workers and students to assist local medical facilities in monitoring and treating COVID-19 patients when necessary.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has reported that supermarkets, wet markets, convenience stores, groceries and pharmacies in Da Nang are maintaining normal operation, with supplies ensured. Notably, some supermarkets and convenience stores in Da Nang have received orders for shopping over the phone and are running delivery support programmes for buyers.

Da Nang is on blockade with social distancing measures applied as several COVID-19 new infections have been detected in the city. (Photo: NDO/Anh Dao)

* On the afternoon of July 29, the Treatment Sub-Committee under the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control conducted a national consultation for severe COVID-19 patients. At the meeting, experts announced that Vietnam currently has six seriously ill cases, all of whom are elderly and have underlying illnesses. Specialists required treatment facilities to pay special attention in adjusting parameters and replenishing drugs to meet treatment requirements, while urgently notifying the Ministry of Health for help in case of difficulties.

* On July 29, the Ministry of Health sent a written request to the concerned localities to urge the local units to stabilise production and supply for face masks to meet the market demand, giving priority to hospitals and health facilities, while strengthening inspection and strictly handling hoarding and unreasonable price increases.

* On the afternoon of July 29, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee received a donation worth over VND6 billion from Do Quang Hien, member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and T&T Group's General Director, to support the COVID-19 fight in the three central localities of Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai.