A section of Street No 2, Đông Giang Ward, where the 833rd patient lives, has been locked down. —VNA/VNS Photo Nguyên Lý

QUẢNG TRỊ — The Health Department of Quảng Trị Province sent a document on Monday morning ordering Quảng Trị General Hospital to temporarily suspend the examination of patients.

The department said there was a high possibility of SARS-CoV-2 spreading among the community.

The hospital was only allowed to receive and treat emergency cases and those transferred from lower-level hospitals.

People with health insurance cards and those registered to be examined and treated at the hospital would be allowed to visit other health facilities in the province.

The National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control confirmed on Sunday afternoon 29 new community transmission cases, including the 832nd and 833rd patients that reside in the province.

The two patients were identified as first-hand contacts with the 750th patient, who had an extensive travel history in the province’s Đông Hà City. 

On Sunday evening, the committee asked to transfer the 832nd patient to Huế Central Hospital for further treatment because the patient had underlying diseases including type-1 diabetes and kidney failure that were believed to be beyond the hospital’s treatment capacity.

Previously, the 37-year-old patient was treated at the hospital’s General Department. The 832nd patient was in the same treatment room as the 750th patient's older sister. During treatment at the hospital, the 832nd patient did not leave the hospital room.

On July 29, the 750th patient came to the treatment room to visit her older sister. The 750th patient was confirmed to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 on August 7.

The provincial People’s Committee decided on Sunday afternoon to lock down three areas after patients 832 and 833 were confirmed to be positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The areas consist of G building of the hospital, where the 832nd patient was treated, Bảo Châu Company, where the 833rd patient works and Street No 2, Đông Giang Ward, where the 833rd patient lives.

The province has recorded a total of four COVID-19 cases as of Monday morning. — VNS