Five more locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases confirmed in Quang Nam

Vietnam reported five new COVID-19 infections in the central province of Quang Nam on July 30 afternoon, announced the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

A health worker takes blood sample from a person to test for COVID-19. (Photo: VNA)
A health worker takes blood sample from a person to test for COVID-19. (Photo: VNA)

>>> Health declaration required on travellers coming to Da Nang from July 1

All the five patients, including four women, had links to the outbreak at Da Nang Hospital in the central city of Da Nang – home to the country’s first locally-transmitted COVID-19 outbreak after nearly 100 days.

Among Vietnam’s total 464 confirmed patients, 276 are imported cases who were immediately quarantined upon arrival.

At present, 18 patients have tested negative for the virus at least once.

The number of community transmission cases since July 25 climbed to 48.

More than 81,540 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or returning from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined across the country, including 472 at hospital, 14,213 at concentrated facilities and 66,861 at their accommodations.

Hundreds of masks, protective suits presented to Da Nang

To support the fight against COVID-19 in Da Nang, hundreds of masks and protective suits will be sent to the central city, under a programme jointly organised by the Vietnam Young Doctors’ Association and other relevant agencies.

There will be 100,000 masks and 500 protective suits presented to hospitals in the city, with another 200,000 masks going to local people and students about to sit the high school graduation exams.

Given the complexity of the pandemic, the association, the Vietnam Youth Federation, and others kick-started the second phase of response efforts.

They presented medical facilities and equipment to health workers and local people as well as essential commodities to those in need.

A face mask plant has opened in the south-central province of Binh Dinh and will produce up to 8 million masks to present to health workers, border guard forces, and young people fighting the pandemic.

During the first phase, the association called on organisations and individuals to donate equipment and essential items worth more than VND25 billion (US$1.07 million).

Vietnam Buddhist Sangha orders suspension of festivals, mass gatherings

Facing complex developments from the new COVID-19 outbreak, the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has requested that its central and local units, training establishments, and places of worship enhance prevention and control measures.

In a document sent on July 30, the Executive Council’s Standing Board demanded they suspend festivals, ritual ceremonies, and training courses with mass gatherings, while increasing disease prevention measures like wearing face masks and frequently washing hands with soap or sanitiser.

The VBS units, training establishments, and places of worship were also told to request that monks, nuns, and followers carry out health declarations, self-quarantine, and monitor their health if they have travelled through pandemic-hit areas, strictly comply with local authorities’ regulations on disease prevention and control, and practice social distancing when asked.

On July 27, the VBS Executive Council ordered stronger anti-COVID-19 measures at its units in Da Nang and Quang Ngai, the first localities to record community infections after 99 straight days of Vietnam being free of such transmissions.