A healthcare worker takes samples for testing of SARS-CoV-2 in HCM City’s District 6 where one of four new COVID-19 patients lives. VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

HCM CITY — Tests of people related to four new COVID-19 patients in HCM City were negative for SARS-CoV-2, according to the city Disease Control and Prevention Centre.

The centre’s staff took samples of 2,261 people considered F1 (direct contact) and F2 (indirect contact) cases. 

As of Saturday morning, the city has not recorded any new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases.

The number of quarantined people in the city is 865. The city has three quarantine areas managed by military forces, with a capacity of more than 500 beds. Each district in the city has one quarantine area, with a capacity of nearly 1,000 beds.

All hospitals in the city have their own areas for quarantine.

The city will increase the number of quarantine areas to meet demand, if needed.

On December 3 and 4, the city Department of Health and Disease Control and Prevention Centres checked the isolation process at designated quarantine areas and hotels used for official quarantine.  

The areas and hotels must comply with the Ministry of Health’s quarantine instructions and install cameras for observation. People in these areas are not allowed contact at a close distance and have been told to install a Bluezone app.

The Department of Health instructed health centres in districts and health stations in wards and communes to strengthen checks and observation at these areas and hotels.

At hotels used for quarantine, managers must strictly carry out the Department of Tourism’s instructions about isolation.

They must report to the department and medical offices about the number of people quarantined at their facility and those who have registered for quarantine. The condition of people’s health should also be reported.

The city has about 23 three- and five-star hotels used for quarantine for people from other countries who are entering the city for work. These people have to pay for the costs of their stay during quarantine.

Preventive measures at hospitals

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Trường Sơn has instructed all hospitals and health departments nationwide to strengthen preventive measures against COVID-19.   

Hospitals must evaluate preventive measures at their facilities according to the safety criteria issued by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Preventive measures should be carried out at hospitals’ ICUs and departments that treat senior patients and patients with heart and respiratory diseases, and those on dialysis.

Screening and isolation as well as tests for people suspected of being infected by the virus should be strictly carried out. Hospitals should also continue limiting visits of patients’ relatives.  

In HCM City, all hospitals require patients to fill out health declaration forms, have their body temperature checked at their door, and wear masks.

The Department of Health is also verifying 26 more hotels for quarantine in the upcoming time.

Tourism sector

The HCM City Department of Tourism has instructed enterprises to strengthen preventive measures at their facilities, hotels, food stores, shopping malls, entertainment establishments, and others.

They should also keep up to date about information on COVID-19 published by the Việt Nam Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention.

They must make plans for prevention and isolation if transmission occurs in tourism and residential areas, and protect the safety and health of tourists and their staff.

The Việt Nam Sports Administration has told the city Department of Culture and Sports to stop organising sports tournaments in the city and not send city teams to take part in national sports tournaments. —VNS