A nurse takes care of a patient at Đà Nẵng General Hospital. One more hospital in Đà Nẵng was locked down for mass testing for SARS-CoV-2. Photo courtesy Hoàng Khánh Hưng

ĐÀ NẴNG — Authorities in Đà Nẵng have ordered the closure of restaurants, cafes and online shopping from 1pm on Thursday (July 30) to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The city issued a statement early this morning, stressing that only traditional markets and supermarkets can open to supply food, as well as petrol stations, pharmacies, banks and health centres.

According to the city’s health department, 12,000 medical samples have been taken, with 11,986 testing negative as of Thursday morning, and the city would expand testing for all residents.

It said the two patients in a serious condition (No 416 and 418) have gradually recovered, while the other COVID-19 patients are stable.

Nursing students from Đông Á college in Đà Nẵng join as volunteers working at hospitals for COVID-19 patients. VNS Photo Phương Chi

The city's health department also confirmed that an 85-year-old patient who died at the General Hospital on July 28 had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. The patient had been at the hospital for kidney failure, diabetes and pneumonia.

The man is the father of COVID-19 patient No 418, but he was not infected with the virus, the department said in an official statement on July 29.

A street in the locked-down area of Đà Nẵng. One more hospital in the city was isolated for SARS-CoV-2 testing. VNS Photo Công Thành

The city also locked down private Hoàn Mỹ Đà Nẵng hospital on Nguyễn Văn Linh Street from July 29 as patient No 449 had been treated for pneumonia at the hospital from June 26 to July 6. The hospital and surrounding streets were disinfected on the night of July 29.

All staff and doctors at the hospital will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 as well as those in close contact with patients.

More than 800 students from medical and pharmaceutical colleges have been called upon to help COVID-19 patients.

Hội An also began social distancing measures from July 31 after a COVID-19 patient visited the town and some surrounding sites.

The city has taken 22 medical samples from people who had close contact with the COVID-19 patient. Ten people have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 according to results released on July 30.

It said 444 people have been quarantined at health centres.  

Quảng Nam Province said 8,043 out of 8,595 medical samples at quarantine centres have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.  

Public bus routes connecting the province with neighbouring Quảng Ngãi Province were closed from July 29. All passengers from the two provinces have to provide health declarations.

A street in Hội An is closed after a COVID-19 patient visited. The city began social distancing from July 30. VNS Photo Kim Chi

Quảng Ngãi Province has isolated 298 people who were in close contact with COVID-19 patients for testing. Medical samples of 38 cases are negative for SARS-CoV-2, including a 10-month-old baby.

Thừa Thiên-Huế also announced that four students who returned from the General Hospital of Đà Nẵng have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 for the first time. The quarantine centre in the mountainous A Lưới district has isolated 94 people that had visited the COVID-19 hotspots in Đà Nẵng. — VNS