45 cases of COVID-19 in Da Nang discovered and quarantined

Aged between 27 and 87, they are either patients or family members who were taking care of patietnts at three different hospitals in the central city.

Community transmissions have spread to five other cities and provinces in six days, with Hanoi and HCMC each reporting two cases, Da Nang's neighbor Quang Nam Province eight cases, the nearby Quang Ngai Province and the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak one each.

There has been a total of 509 coronavirus cases recorded nationally as of 6 am on July 31 morning, with 365 (79.5%) making a full recovery, whilst the remaining cases are undergoing treatment at medical facilities throughout the nation. 18 patients have so far tested negative for the virus at least once.

The Ministry of Health is continuing to closely monitor the disease situation across the country, especially the outbreak in the central city of Da Nang- the locality has recorded the highest number of community-associated cases since July 25, while intensifying medical isolation, and testing suspected cases as well as returnees from Da Nang.

Meanwhile, amid the increasingly complicated developments of the pandemic, Hanoi Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung has ordered the mass testing of all local residents, who have returned from the central city of Da Nang after July 16 as a means of preventing the spread of the virus to the wider community.

The testing for returnees from the central city, home to the latest coronavirus outbreak, is set for completion by August 2.

Two major cities- Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City- have also suspended events attracting crowds and gatherings at bars, dance clubs, fairs, and exhibitions as the COVID-19 numbers are on the rise in the community.