Kim Dien village of Chi Linh city in the northern province of Hai Duong has gone into a period of isolation from the night of January 27 following the detection of a positive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case.

This comes after a 34-year-old woman tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus after coming into contact with a COVID-19 patient from the same locality. The latter was then confirmed to be positive for the virus by Japanese authorities after arriving in Osaka.

Due to the latest developments, Hai Duong has put Kim Dien village into lockdown, along with Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. in Cong Hoa industrial park, both of which are located in Chi Linh city and are related to the fresh patient dubbed patient 1552.

Kim Dien village accommodates 303 households and over 900 residents, with authorities requiring locals to take samples for tests from the evening of January 27.

Vu Duy Dang, chairman of Hung Dao commune’s administration, says the sampling for COVID-19 tests has been completed by the morning of January 28.

The Hai Duong provincial administration has imposed social distancing on Chi Linh city as of January 28, and the measure is scheduled to last through February 17.

Check-points have been erected throughout Kim Dien village and Hung Dao commune.

Policemen, doctors, and young volunteers are on duty at the checkpoints.

Residents of Kim Dien village have been urged to remain at home and frequently sanitise their hands.

The relatives of local citizens in neighbouring areas are not permitted to enter the village.

Local women’s associations serve food to forces on-duty at checkpoints.

Schools are forced to close in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Residents follow the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 prevention and control measures. With 73 cases detected with hours, the provincial administration is considering establishing a field hospital in Chi Linh city.

At present, Hai Duong province’s authorities have successfully traced 237 F1 cases related to patient No. 1552.