A group of leading experts led by Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son left Da Nang on August 21 after the country’s largest coronavirus outbreak in the locality is being put under control.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son together with doctors and patients recovering from COVID-19 at Da Nang's Hoa Vang field hospital  

The ministry dispatched special working teams comprised of leading epidemiologists and doctors to Da Nang in late July to help the central city with contact tracing, epidemiological investigations and intensive tests after the first locally acquired coronavirus infection was detected.

The outbreak has since spread to 15 cities and provinces, with Da Nang alone being the hardest hit city, registering more than 300 cases. The outbreak has showed signs of abating, with the number of infections falling condiderably from dozens on a daily basis to less than 10 during the past few days. 

Meeting the leading experts on August 20, Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho expressed the city’s sincere gratitude for the experts’ timely assistance during the fight against COVID-19.

Tho explained how they faced an unprecedented workload at the COVID-19 hotspot and were at high risk of infection, adding that their support made an important contribution to bringing the epidemic under control in the central city.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son noted that although the outbreak in Da Nang has been localized, local residents must remain highly vigilant as the virus is evolving in a complex manner. He proposed the city continue to implement a range of anti-epidemic measures to keep the virus at bay in the community.

The same day, the municipal People’s Committee released guidance concerning the organisation of funerals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This guidance sees the bodies of deceased people infected with COVID-19 cremated within 24 hours of their death. Deaths that are not linked to the virus must be left for no more than 24 hours.

These guidelines have been launched following the city recording nine COVID-19 cases that can be linked to two funerals.