The situations in Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province have been put under control, however, new COVID-19 community infection cases may be uncovered in the upcoming days while number of COVID-19 deaths may rise because many patients are dealing with serious chronic diseases.

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control organizes
a meeting under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Ha Noi,
August 4, 2020 - Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam 

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on August 4 organized a meeting under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. 

After having conducted antibody tests on 5,000 samples collected from infected patients and their relatives and those having close contact with, it can be concluded that the outbreak appears to have started in early July, said Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Dang Duc Anh. 

At present, only six COVID-19 patients in Da Nang City have been identified to be local community transmissions in the city while the remainders are linked to three “hot spot” hospitals in the city. 

There has been no COVID-19 infection case uncovered through testing in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and some large medical facilities. 

Speaking at the meeting, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that the ministry will send more health workers to Quang Nam Province to speed up tracing new COVID-19 infection cases in the community as well as quickly quarantine, control the situations and minimize COVID-19 deaths.

The risk for the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic still remains as Viet Nam has the population of nearly 100 million people and the border lines of more than 4,000 km, the Committee said, adding that the nation should promote production and manufacturing in a new condition while ensuring the COVID-19 fight. 

The outbreak of the pandemic in Da Nang City is an alert to all localities and agencies at all levels, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said, asking localities to launch prompt measures to contain the COVID-19 as soon as possible. 

He required resolutely implementing directions on health management for people, especially the elderly and people with chronic diseases, tightening disciplines at hospitals and launching regulations on the pandemic prevention and control for patients and health workers. 

As of early August 5, Viet Nam has confirmed 672 COVID-19 infection cases, 224 of whom are linked to Da Nang City. 

The nation has recorded eight COVID-19 deaths so far.