The source of nCoV infection in Hai Duong is from Da Nang
The nCoV gene sequence in Hai Duong is similar to the strain in Da Nang, showing that the source of Covid-19 infection in Hai Duong is related to the Da Nang outbreak.
Dr. Pham Quang Thai, Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Control, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, commented as above. According to him, the results of decoding the nCoV gene sequence in Hai Duong show that the outbreak here is not caused by a new strain of virus.
According to Dr. Nguyen Viet Nhung, Director of the Central Lung Hospital, the source of infection for the Hai Duong patients was determined to be from Da Nang, possibly due to contact with a person returning from Da Nang, not from Hanoi. Thanks to that, the anti-epidemic steering committee has a more accurate method of isolating the epidemic and treating the patients.
However, Dr. Nhung said that the F0 has not been identified yet, the cluster of infections in Hai Duong is quite complicated, the source of infection is still in the community. To control the epidemic, people need to seriously implement isolation, stop trading and entertainment activities, and absolutely not be subjective. Medical staff also speed up tracing, isolation, large-scale sampling and rapid testing to prevent the epidemic.
Dr. Thai also said that actively tracing people who have been in direct contact with infected cases and increasing testing of people returning from Da Nang is the right strategy to contain the epidemic in Hai Duong.
"People returning from Da Nang must be tested, because if even one person is missed, it can create new outbreaks," said Dr. Thai.
Mr. Thai and the Ministry of Health's working group participated in tracing, finding and isolating all F1 groups, avoiding missing infected cases that could cause further outbreaks.
Hai Duong authorities are stepping up community screening. All potential cases are being tested, including those without epidemiological factors and those with fever, cough, and sore throat. Authorities have set up teams to help track down suspected cases, conduct public health education, and educate the community.
On August 12, Hanoi recorded "patient 867", a 63-year-old male from Hai Duong who came to Hanoi for a medical examination. Tracing the epidemic from this patient, Hai Duong recorded 11 more Covid-19 patients related to the Fresh Beef World restaurant at 36 Ngo Quyen Street, Hai Duong City. From there, "patient 867" was determined to be possibly infected from this restaurant.
On August 16, the results of decoding the nCoV gene of "patient 867" conducted by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology were similar to the new nCoV strain in Da Nang. This strain has the characteristic of spreading faster but its virulence is unchanged compared to the previously recorded strains.
From 0:00 on August 14, Hai Duong city will be socially isolated for 15 days.