People wait to get tested for COVID-19 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) has warned localities to heighten vigilance to the maximum level as the total number of COVID-19 cases passed the 1,000-benchmark after new infections surged in the second wave.
At present, the COVID-19 pandemic has appeared in 215 countries and territories across the world (including two cruise ships).
Data of worldmeters.info showed that there are more than 22.71 million COVID-19 infections worldwide, including over 793,550 fatalities and nearly 15.4 million recoveries.
Vietnam confirmed a total 1,007 cases, of whom 533 were given the all-clear and 25 died. As the number of cases surged in the second wave, the MoH warned localities to heighten vigilance to the maximum level.
The pandemic likely to persist
From July 25 to August 20, new infections emerged in 15 provinces and cities across the country, 367 of them having links to the outbreak in the central city of Da Nang. There were 96 cases in Quang Nam, three in Dak Lak, 12 in Hanoi and Hai Duong each, eight in HCM City and seven in Quang Tri.
Other six cases were reported in Bac Giang, five in Quang Ngai, four in Lang Son, two in Dong Nai, and one in Thai Binh, Ha Nam, Thanh Hoa and Khanh Hoa each.
Of the total cases in Vietnam, 666 were locally-transmitted and since July 25. The number of new infections hit 525, equal to the tally in the seven months of the first wave.
Director of the Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Luong Ngoc Khue pointed out that in the first wave, two medical workers were infected with SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 and there were no deaths. However, the figures rose to 30 and 25 in the second wave, respectively.
In the previous wave, Hanoi-based Bach Mai and Hong Ngoc hospitals were forced to close doors, now four hospitals in Da Nang city must do the same.
In addition to disease control, the prevention of transmissions in hospitals is a major task at the moment. Various hospitals had done well in infection control, but carelessness may cost them dearly, he noted.
Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that the outbreaks in Da Nang and Quang Nam have been brought under control as the number of new cases decreased in recent days.
Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and some other central localities have enhanced contact tracing, testing and determining risk factors to promptly carry out preventive measures.
Most of the dead patients suffered from severe underlying conditions, including blood cancer, kidney failure and chronic cardiovascular diseases.
He added that when the first COVID-19 case was reported in Hai Duong province, local authorities had rolled out countermeasures and the MoH sent delegations to support the province in contact tracing and quick testing.
The MoH said that the pandemic will persist and community transmissions are likely to emerge, therefore localities must stay vigilant to curb its spread.
Health workers in Son Tra district of Da Nang city take throat swab specimens for COVID-19 testing (Photo: VNA)
Tighten up the “defensive line”
Experts and members of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control affirmed that preventive measures in Da Nang proved effective.
Long warned people to be alert as families may become pandemic hotspots this time. Previously there were about 40 hotspots, at the moment the number has risen to 150.
Vietnam has accumulated experiences in fighting against the pandemic, he added, particularly under the leadership of the Party, State and the engagement of ministries, sectors, organisations and people. The country has also worked to speed up contact tracing to isolate the sources of infection from the community.
Vietnam is exerting efforts to access to COVID-19 vaccine, but it might be no sooner than the second half of 2021, the Acting Health Minister said.
Experts also mentioned the need for new guidelines to launch measures in a concerted manner among localities, in a bid to tighten up the “defensive line”.
Vietnamese citizens from Equatorial Guinea return home after two-week mandatory quarantine (Photo: VNA)
Stay vigilant: Living together with the pandemic
The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has agreed with the idea to continue staying vigilant to live together with the pandemic.
People’s consensus is a decisive factor in the success of the fight against COVID-19, it noted.
Ministries and localities are asked to further tightened border control and the entry of foreign experts, investors and skilled workers into Vietnam, as well as address difficulties in ensuring medical equipment and raise testing capacity in an efficient and economical way.
Meanwhile, people need to closely follow health guidelines, notably wearing face masks when going out, keeping distance and washing hands regularly.
Communications should be enhanced to raise public awareness, along with inspections and penalties for violators./.
People wait to have their specimens taken for RT-PCR tests in Hai Ba Trung district of Hanoi (Photo: VNA) 
