Vietnam says Da Nang Covid-19 outbreak under control

On Wednesday morning, the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control confirmed two new patients, much lower than previous days with several dozen new cases daily.  

Death toll has risen to eight, but local health officials warned that the number of deaths related to the disease will increase in the coming days since there are several patients under critical health conditions, requiring dialysis and emergency resuscitation.

During a Tuesday meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, former director of Preventive Medicine Department under Ministry of Health Tran Dac Phu said that there was no evidence to confirm that the epidemic is strong outside the community.

Based on the sample testing of infected cases and epidemiological investigations, the number of cases in the community was not high, he said. 

Sample testing in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City and some major medical facilities also showed the no coronavirus infection have gone undetected in the community. The outbreak concentrated on three hospitals which were put under lockdown.

Da Nang conducted antibody tests of 5,000 samples out of a total of 7,000 samples collected in isolated areas and in the community.

The Ministry of Health is taking all measures to try to control the situation. In the coming time, the Ministry of Health will take 50,000 antibody test samples in Da Nang and Quang Nam.

Deputy PM Dam asked agencies to spread instructions on pandemic prevention while localities were requested to strengthen inspections on compliance with the Government’s instructions.

He was confident that the country would win the fight against the pandemic. Production would be resumed, and new businesses would be developed. Social distancing will not be imposed on a national scale again, he added.  

► A centenarian woman among 30 newly confirmed Covid-19 patients in Vietnam