Vietnam’s former Covid-19 epicenter considers social distancing over latest coronavirus outbreak

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On May 6, at the meeting of the Hai Duong’s Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Pham Xuan Thang asked for the consideration of adopting social distancing appropriate with the new situation. He encourages meeting with voters in the online form and suspending non-essential businesses to prevent the Covid-19 spread, VTC News reported.

Saying that this outbreak would complexly develop, Thang requested the Hai Duong’s Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to learn from the previous outbreak, continuing implementing according to principles: widely zoning; rapidly contact tracing and testing; strictly quarantining and effectively treating.

Concerning the newly-detected outbreak at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Hai Duong’s leader asked the Department of Health, the police force and localities to inform residents who are related to this outbreak to make health declaration.

He underscored the need of upgrading the testing system to ensure a minimum capacity of 5,000 tests a day as well as preparing human resources for treating Covid-19 patients. The province’s Center for Disease Control needs to develop a plan of testing high-risk groups on a large scale in accordance with the new situation.

Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Pham Xuan Thang speaks at the meeting. Photo: VTC News

Hai Duong Party Committee Secretary also requested the Management Board of industrial zones and localities to closely supervise the implementation of anti-pandemic measures at enterprises and factories.

In addition, the relevant units need to guarantee the goods circulation, ensuring goals of both preventing the epidemic and developing the economy, he added.

In the latest coronavirus outbreak, Hai Duong has reported 3 community transmissions.

Hai Duong was former Vietnam’s largest epicenter as the new Covid-19 wave hit the province and many other localities ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The province ended social distancing from April 1.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Vinh Phuc People's Committee also proposed the social distancing in the entire province from May 7 in the context that the province has confirmed 25 locally-transmitted cases.

On the evening of May 6, Chairman of Vinh Phuc People's Committee Le Duy Thanh came to the Provincial General Hospital to direct the epidemic prevention and control. He said that he proposed the social distancing to Prime Minister and the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee.

“The decision will exert an adverse impact on the socio-economic development, but it’s essential to curb the spread of the virus,” he said.

Disinfecting at an area in Vinh Phuc. Photo: Vnexpress

Since the first community transmissions were detected, Vinh Phuc has suspended non-essential business, sealed off areas related to infections and established 9 checkpoints to control vehicles in and out of the province.

The province on May 1 ordered karaoke parlors, massage parlors, bars, discotheques, game rooms, entertainment areas, etc to halt operations.

The latest outbreak in Vinh Phuc was discovered on May 2, related to a group of Chinese experts tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 and then infected 6 employees at pub called The Sunny Bar. To date, the province has logged 25 locally-transmitted cases.

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