The 68th patient (centre) gives a thumb-up when being released from Đà Nẵng Hospital. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Dũng

ĐÀ NẴNG — Việt Nam's 68th COVID-19 patient was released from Đà Nẵng Hospital today, increasing the country's total number recovered cases to 86.

The 41-year-old patient is an American who is married to a Vietnamese woman and lives in Đà Nẵng City.

He is the city's fourth patient to have been successfully treated.

He entered Việt Nam at Đà Nẵng International Airport on March 14 on flight MT632 from Singapore.

Previously, he had travelled to India, Morocco, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

He was taken to a quarantine facility at Hospital 199 right after landing at the airport.

He tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on March 18 and was sent to the Đà Nẵng Hospital for treatment.

He tested negative three times on March 30, April 1 and April 3.

“The 68th patient was given medical treatment for 18 days. He was tested three times every 48 hours and the results all came back negative,” said doctor Phạm Ngọc Hàm, head of the tropical disease department of Đà Nẵng Hospital.

“The patient was very co-operative with the health workers during the treatment,” said the doctor.

At present, his health condition is stable.

After being discharged from the hospital, the patient would continue to be placed under self-isolation at home and close medical observation the next 14 days, he said.

When leaving the hospital, the patient said thanks to the doctors and that he was impressed with Việt Nam’s medical system in its efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other two patients who are being treated in Đà Nẵng Hospital are in stable condition.

The 122nd patient has also tested negative three times, but is still being kept in the hospital for monitoring because he has been quarantined for 12 days, the doctor said.

So far, Đà Nẵng Hospital had successfully treated four COVID-19 patients – numbers 22, 23, 35 and 68.

Đà Nẵng’s Disease Control Centre reported that 18 people returning from Hà Nội’s Bạch Mai Hospital were quarantined and are being closely monitored.

At present, they have tested negative for the virus. — VNS