A health worker takes samples of a fisherman for COVID-19 testing at Thọ Quang Fishing Port in Đà Nẵng City. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Dũng

HÀ NỘI – Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam has warned the nation to remain vigilant, despite the excellent work carried out to contain the latest surge in COVID-19 cases.

Đam was speaking at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Friday.

He urged people to continue implementing the 5K motto – masks, sanitise, keeping distance, no gatherings and complete health declarations – to prevent the spread.

“Only by doing so, can we contain the outbreaks and avoid imposing social distancing,” said the Deputy PM, who is also head of the committee.

“If everyone is safe, the whole country is safe.”

Đặng Quang Tấn, Director-General of the Preventive Medicine Department under the Ministry of Health said the COVID-19 outbreaks in the northern provinces of Hà Nam, Vĩnh Phúc and Yên Bái have been basically controlled.

He also said the outbreak at the National Cancer Hospital in Tân Triều, Hà Nội, has been contained.

But he did warn that no source has been identified for the cases in Đà Nẵng City at the An Đồn Industrial Zone and more can be expected in the coming days.

In Hải Dưong, all five community cases are linked to a resident who illegally returned to Việt Nam and then tested positive.

In Hà Nội, 76 infections have been recorded and the source identified. More new cases are expected in the capital.

At the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the majority of confirmed cases are residents from Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang provinces. The hospital has been locked down and is only receiving severe COVID-19 cases.

For the outbreaks at industrial parks in Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang, Tấn said the risk of community transmission is still high as many workers are residents of other localities.

In addition, Bắc Giang’s isolation and testing capacity remains questionable. Around 30,000 samples have been collected, but results have not been completed on more than 6,000.

While praising Quảng Ninh Province for supporting Bắc Giang in speeding up testing, Đam asked for more support for the two localities.

He also pointed out limitations in tracing and managing F2 and F3 cases, and urged localities to observe regulations.

Meanwhile, Hà Nội’s Department of Health announced they would take samples of all people who visited to Đà Nẵng from May 1-15 for COVID-19 testing. These people are also asked to make medical declarations and self-isolate for 21 days since their last day in Đà Nẵng City.

If symptoms remain, patients should contact medical facilities.

On Saturday morning, 20 new cases were recorded. This takes the amount of new community infections detected since April 27 to 808.  VNS