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Coronavirus: Vietnam alarm after first cases in months Coronavirus: Vietnam alarm after first cases in months
(about 1 hour later)
Vietnam has ramped up its coronavirus control measures after recording four new locally transmitted cases. Vietnam has closed the city of Da Nang to tourists after four new locally transmitted coronavirus were recorded, the country's first since April.
The country has been lauded as a success story of the pandemic having acted early to close borders and enforce quarantine and contact tracing. No tourists can enter the city for 14 days and extra flights are being laid on to fly out up to 80,000 visitors.
It has recorded just over 400 cases and no deaths, and had gone nearly 100 days with no new cases. Vietnam has been lauded as a success story of the pandemic having acted early to close borders and enforce quarantine and contact tracing.
The new cases are all linked to Da Nang, a central coastal city popular with domestic tourists. It has recorded just over 400 cases and no deaths.
The first case - patient 416 - was a 57-year-old man who sought medical care on 20 July for flu symptoms and was diagnosed with Covid-19. He is now on a ventilator and according to doctors quoted in local media, in a critical condition. But nearly 100 days after its last locally transmitted case, four new cases emerged in Da Nang, a central coastal city popular with domestic tourists.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday ordered Da Nang residents to re-implement social distancing and close all non-essential services.
He said the response had to be "decisive" but that he was not yet ordering a total lockdown of the city.
Links between cases unclear
The first new case - patient 416 - was a 57-year-old man who sought medical care on 20 July for flu symptoms.
He is now on a ventilator and, according to doctors quoted in local media, in a critical condition.
Officials say they do not yet know where he contracted the virus and that he had not recently left the city.Officials say they do not yet know where he contracted the virus and that he had not recently left the city.
Contact tracing identified more than 100 people who had interacted with the man, but all returned negative tests.Contact tracing identified more than 100 people who had interacted with the man, but all returned negative tests.
However over the weekend, three more cases were confirmed. However over the weekend, three more cases were confirmed, including one 17-year-old from neighbouring Quang Ngai province who had travelled home on a coach with people who had been at the Da Nang C Hospital.
One was a 61-year-old man in Da Nang, who is now on a ventilator. It was unclear whether he was linked to the previous case. Authorities have not yet commented on links between the four cases.
The second was a 17-year-old man who had been visiting Da Nang from neighbouring Quang Ngai province but had travelled home on a coach with people who had been at the Da Nang C Hospital. Da Nang C Hospital sealed its doors in response to the first diagnosis and Da Nang is reinforcing prevention measures.
And a 71-year-old woman who had been admitted to the same hospital for chest pains also tested positive. Non-essential businesses have been ordered to close and gatherings of more than 30 people are banned. Tourism travel has been suspended for 14 days.
Da Nang C Hospital sealed its doors in response to the first diagnosis. The city has reintroduced social distancing measures and has banned incoming domestic tourism for 14 days, a major blow for the tourism-dependent region. With international travel largely impossible, Da Nang had been promoted as a holiday destination for Vietnamese people.
Non-essential businesses have been ordered to close and gatherings of more than 30 people are banned. Officials say up to 80,000 domestic tourists are in the city, so extra flights are being laid on take them home. People may be asked to quarantine on their return, according to media reports.
Hospitals across the country have also stepped up preventative measures, while the capital, Hanoi, has begun urging people to wear masks in public again.Hospitals across the country have also stepped up preventative measures, while the capital, Hanoi, has begun urging people to wear masks in public again.
Domestic football matches were suspended on Sunday. Domestic football matches were also suspended on Sunday.
The new cases are a significant setback for Vietnam, which has been proud of its success in containing the virus.The new cases are a significant setback for Vietnam, which has been proud of its success in containing the virus.
It closed its borders to almost all travellers except returning citizens early on in the pandemic and requires anyone entering the country to quarantine in government facilities for 14 days and undergo testing. Most of its cases have been detected in quarantine. It closed its borders to almost all travellers except returning citizens early on in the pandemic and requires anyone entering the country to quarantine in government facilities for 14 days and undergo testing.
An extensive contact tracing and testing operation also meant it was able to quickly quash local outbreaks. Most of its cases have been detected in quarantine.
It has so far recorded only 420 cases and no patients have died. An extensive contact tracing and testing operation also meant it was able to quickly quash local outbreaks. It has so far recorded only 420 cases and no patients have died.
Its most famous patient, a British patient who spent 68 days on a ventilator, was able to travel home earlier this month. Its most famous patient, a British man who spent 68 days on a ventilator, was able to travel home earlier this month.