The Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention in the northern province of Quang immediately activated disease prevention measures at the highest level on late January 27 following detection of one locally-transmitted case of coronavirus.  

The urgent meeting of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention
in the northern province of Quang Ninh

Chairman of Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Tuong Van tasked local authorities to steer all human resources to contact tracing and screening to the F4 level, and carrying out testing for all those who are on the list.

Schools at all grades are closed for a week, beginning from January 28, and public gatherings must be minimized.

Local authorities are asked to suspend unnecessary meetings, and pay attention to containing the outbreak.

The provincial transport department suspended all inter- and intra-provincial activities on land and waterway as from 6:00 am January 28.

The provincial Department of Transport was assigned to work with relevant departments, sector and authorities to immediately set up epidemic control stations along roads, especially those linking with the nearby province of Hai Duong where another cluster has just been found.

Chairman Van emphasized that all prevention measures must be implemented in the most drastic and proactive manner, adding that medical supplies and equipment must be ready in order to cope with the worst scenarios. 

Earlier, Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hanh summoned an urgent meeting with local leaders of Ha Long on disease prevention measures. 

The newly confirmed case in Quang Ninh (Patient 1553) is a 31-year-old man from Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city, northern Quang Ninh province, who is a staff member of Van Don airport. 

The patient displayed symptoms of fever, cough and sore-throat, and went to hospital for medical check-up himself. He is isolated for treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ha Noi's Dong Anh District.

The Quang Ninh Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention reported at least 75 people who had close contact with Patient 1553.