Medical blockade lifted from Da Nang’s largest hospital

With the first infections marking the second COVID-19 wave in Vietnam detected in the hospital in July 25, Da Nang Hospital was immediately placed under medical blockade to prevent the spread of the disease to the community.

Dr. Le Duc Nhan, Director of Da Nang Hospital, emotionally said that after the 30-day medical blockade, with the support from the Ministry of Health, the People's Committee of Da Nang City and the city’s Department of Health, the hospital has been cleaned for now and is ready to resume medical examination and treatment.

This is the last of the city’s three hospitals to have been released from lockdown for COVID-19 prevention and control, with the Da Nang Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital and Da Nang C Hospital having been lifted from isolation earlier this month.

After the blockade was removed, Da Nang Hospital carried out COVID-19 tests for more than 800 medical staff to ensure safety before the hospital returns to normal operation.

The entire staff are now healthy. They have finished medical isolation for 14 days and also provided three negative test results for SARS-CoV-2.

* On the same day, two residential areas in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam Province, including residential area no. 19 in Phuoc Hoa Ward and the Vuon Lai market area in An Son Ward, were lifted from blockade after 14 days in isolation.

Earlier, the two areas were put into isolation due to the links to a local mother and her son, who both contracted the coronavirus.

* On Tuesday evening, the People's Committee of Tu Nghia District in Quang Ngai Province decided to end on-site medical isolation applied since August 8 for two residential areas in Song Ve Town, where a local COVID-19 patient resides.

Vuon Lai Market in Tam Ky City during the blockade. (Photo: NDO/Tan Nguyen)

Following five consecutive negative tests, the patient was announced as recovered that morning and has returned to her residence.

* From 19:00 on August 25, Dong Ha City – the capital of Quang Tri Province – eased some restrict social distancing measures for business establishments, scenic spots and monuments, with commercial services, sports activities and public passenger transport permitted to resume operation but must apply safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Quang Tri still maintains medical quarantine posts at gateways to the province, while not allowing gatherings of over 20 people in a room and over 30 outside of offices, schools or medical establishments, as well as continuing to suspend non-essential service establishments such as karaoke, amusement parks and beauty establishments.

* On Tuesday, Hanoi authorities urged for strengthened COVID-19 preventive measures in the capital city, especially at local hospitals, apartments and restaurants, during the upcoming National Day (September 2) holiday and the opening of the new school year, set for September 5.

* On the same day, the Vingroup conglomerate presented the DrAidTM software developed by its VinBrain Company to the Ministry of Health, along with other accompanying equipment to support prognostic assessment in COVID-19 treatment.

DrAidTM is the first AI software in Vietnam offering some preeminent features in COVID-19 detection and treatment based on straight chest x-ray images. It has been developed by VinBrain since 2019.