Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long has stated that the latest novel coronavirus (COVID-19) detected in Hai Duong province could have started up to 14 days previously, after the latest case was confirmed in the locality on January 28. 

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long warns about the complex nature of
the fresh outbreak in Hai Duong province, saying it is highly contagious.

“As the virus could have emerged around January 14 or January 15, the source of the disease is likely to remain in Chi Linh and surrounding areas,” Minister Long said during an urgent meeting convened on January 28 by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The case detected in Hai Duong involves a female worker of Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. and is linked to a new SARS-CoV-2 variant which originates from the UK.

The Ministry of Health has therefore dispatched a contingent of specialists to Hai Duong province in an effort to assist the locality with ongoing epidemiological investigation and surveillance efforts, as well as to implement mass testing.

“We have learned the virus is sourced from a company, therefore it is highly contagious,” said Minister Long.

According to the Minister, the firm has already been cordoned off and up to 2,340 workers have since had samples taken for COVID-19 testing.

Authorities also took samples from labourers of other factories in the vicinity, therefore the total number of samples may rise to tens of thousands, Minister Long added.

The Ministry of Health announced two fresh community cases on the morning of January 28, one in Hai Duong and another in Quang Ninh province.

As of midday on January 28, an additional 82 cases had been detected, including 72 in Hai Duong province, currently the country’s largest COVID-19 hotspot.

The local administration has therefore swiftly implemented drastic measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus among the wider community.

Hai Duong has also imposed social distancing on Chi Linh city, in addition to locking down a ward where the fresh case was detected.

Quang Ninh has also suspended land and waterway transportation services in an effort to restrict travel in the locality. Elsewhere, Van Don International Airport where a staff member was first confirmed to have tested positive for the virus, was also temporarily suspended.

Both localities have also permitted school students to remain home as of January 28, more than a week ahead of schedule.

The students had been scheduled to have at least seven days off to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year festival, known locally as Tet, starting from February 8.