Health officials spray disinfectant around the home of the latest suspected case of COVID-19 in Liên Chiểu District, Đà Nẵng City. — VNA/VNS Photo

ĐÀ NẴNG — A suspected new case of COVID-19 in Đà Nẵng City has tested positive for the third time, according to Đà Nẵng City authorities.

Deputy director of the Đà Nẵng health department Nguyễn Tiên Hồng said that the patient is currently on a ventilator.

If confirmed, this is the first community transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Việt Nam for 99 days. Authorities said they have managed to isolate the close contacts of the patient and his area of risk.

The 57-year-old man in Liên Chiểu District tested positive for the virus twice on Thursday, and the third test done at Nha Trang Pasteur Institute earlier today was positive.

According to the Ministry of Health, the patient has remained at home in Liên Chiểu District for the past month and didn’t travel out of town.

On July 7, he went to take care of his mother at the Ngũ Hành Sơn health centre in Đà Nẵng.

On July 16, he went to visit his mother after she was moved to Đà Nẵng Hospital.

On July 17, he developed a fever and felt unwell. On the evening of the same day, he went to a cousin’s house for dinner. On July 18, he went to a wedding at the For You Palace on the 2-9 Road in Đà Nẵng.

On July 20, his fever had not abated and he developed a cough. He went for a check-up at Đà Nẵng C Hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia and was hospitalised. His samples were taken for COVID-19 testing and were found to be positive twice.

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology is doing another test for the fourth time.

The Đà Nẵng C Hospital has been disinfected and locked down. People who have been in contact with the latest patient will have to be quarantined. The patient has been moved to Đà Nẵng Hospital for treatment.

Urgent pandemic prevention measures have been deployed. Leaders of Đà Nẵng C Hospital and Đà Nẵng Hospital have worked with the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control to work on the plan for management and treatment for the patient.

A travel history of the patient and tracing of contacts has been completed. Further investigation is ongoing. — VNS