Spraying disinfectant on a street in Son Tra district (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the central region, the Health Ministry has sent many experienced experts to the central localities of Da Nang, Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue where both locals and medical staff are stretched out with great effort to fight the pandemic.
The outbreak in the central region marked the second phase of the combat against the pandemic in Vietnam, during which the disease can spread rapidly to many localities, including major urban areas, threatening people’s lives and health as well as the country’s socio-economic development.
The health sector and authorities at all levels are promptly carrying out synchronous measures to prevent and control the spreading of the coronavirus at health clinics following the worst scenario.
Experts at leading institutes in terms of disease prevention and control, testing and treatment have joined the battle to share the burden with Da Nang’s preventive medical sector.
10 days: 237 COVID-19 cases reported
As of 6am on August 4, the nation had recorded 651 infections, including 324 imported cases, and six fatalities.
Of the total, 237 cases had been detected since July 25, with 205 transmitted domestically in nine provinces and cities: Da Nang (143 cases), Quang Nam (43), HCM City (8), Dak Lak (3), Quang Ngai (3), Hanoi (2), Thai Binh (1), Dong Nai (1) and Ha Nam (1). The epidemiological records of all the new locally-transmitted cases have shown factors related to the outbreak in Da Nang.
Among six fatalities, five were in Da Nang and one in Quang Nam. They all are elder patients with serious underlying diseases.
Health workers take test samples for residents on Nguyen Duy Hieu street, Son Tra district, Da Nang city (Photo: VNA). For testing work, as of August 3, a total of 493,481 Realtime RT-PCR tests had been conducted.
Complicated developments
According to acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long, localities have been active in disease prevention and control over the past time.
However, despite extra efforts exerted, Long said, the disease is developing complicatedly, as there are transmissions from patients to patients, their relatives and caregivers, and health workers.
Of note, in this new infection wave, the danger is high when many elder patients with various underlying diseases are infected.
On August 3, the Health Ministry sent a dispatch to People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, requesting them to strengthen preventive measures at medical facilities, with priority given to those with a high risk of infection.
Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son (R) is head of the special medical task force in Da Nang (Photo: VietnamPlus) Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked relevant ministries, sectors and localities at all levels to act fast and strictly carry out measures to effectively control any outbreaks and high-risk areas in Da Nang. He required authorities to continue following the stance of “fighting the disease like fighting enemy” and called for the engagement of the entire political system and people in the battle.
Experienced experts dispatched to help Da Nang
Nguyen Thanh Long said that due to complicated developments of the outbreaks in Da Nang, the Health Ministry has carried out an unprecedented measure - sending experienced experts to Da Nang and Quang Nam.
Right after the first cases were recorded, experts with experience in treatment, testing, tracing, epidemiological investigations and contagious diseases headed to Da Nang to support the city. Many of them had participated in the treatment process of the British pilot (Patient 91), and in the quarantine and stamping out of outbreaks in Son Loi, Ha Loi, and Binh Thuan.
In addition, the Health Ministry set up a special taskforce for COVID-19 prevention and control in Da Nang led by Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son to help the city soon put the outbreak under control.
In terms of treatment, professors and experts of the country’s leading hospitals such as Bach Mai and Cho Ray were also sent to Da Nang to help treat severe patients at Da Nang General Hospital. They guided the transportation of patients in critical conditions to Hue Central Hospital and those with minor symptoms to lower-level hospitals to reduce the burden on Da Nang General Hospital.
According to Nguyen Trong Khoa, deputy head of the Medical Check-up and Treatment Management Department, many virtual consultations have been organised to gather ideas of experts from Hanoi and HCM City to treat patients in critical conditions.
Associate Professor Tran Nhu Duong (R), deputy head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, has been present in Da Nang right after the first case was reported in the city (Photo: VietnamPlus). The Government leader has asked people nationwide to stay vigilant, continue believing in, supporting, and actively following disease prevention and control measures of the Government, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and the Health Ministry.
He requested each person be a soldier and each village and ward be a fortress in the fight against the COVID-19./.
