A number of patients in Da Nang who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are confirmed to be in a critical condition, including a patient who is currently connected to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine.

Most of these cases are elderly patients who contract underlying illnesses such as chronic kidney and heart diseases, hypertension and even cancer, according to Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, director of the Ministry of Health’s Medical Examination and Treatment Department.

Among them is a 61-year-old patient, dubbed patient 437, residing in Hoa An ward of Cam Le district in Da Nang. The patient is currently relying on a ECMO machine and is suffering from diabetes, hypertension, and gout.

He had received regular treatment at Da Nang Hospital before first testing positive for COVID-19 on July 27.

Specialists have held constant consultations every hour to offer the best possible treatment to this case.

Dr. Khue said the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic remains long and there will be plenty of more challenges to come.

“Protecting the health of doctors and nurses is given top priority,” he stressed.

The official also recommended that hospitals nationwide should comply with regulations regarding the process of receiving, screening, quarantining, and treating patients, in an effort to prevent cross transmission.