Authorities in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang are expediting the establishment of a makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment at a local sports venue following a recent spike in the number of cases.

The municipal Party Committee on Thursday requested relevant agencies to speed up the building of an improvised COVID-19 hospital at Tien Son Sports Arena in Hai Chau District to prevent overcrowding at local infirmaries and medical centers.

Focus must also be directed to disinfecting Da Nang Hospital, Da Nang C Hospital, and Da Nang Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital, which are the COVID-19 clusters in the central city.

The local health sector must continue monitoring and performing COVID-19 tests on people with high risks of infection, as well as promptly detecting and quarantining any community-based cases and related individuals.

The sector must ensure sufficient supply of necessary equipment including ECMO machines, ventilators, personal protective equipment, medical masks, and antiseptic solutions. 

Local authorities must make sure the reserves of foodstuffs and essential items are adequate for local residents.

Since 0:00 July 31, all construction works in the city have been suspended until further notice.

Vietnam has documented 93 community-based COVID-19 cases since Saturday, of which 80 are recorded in Da Nang.

Other cases confirmed in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Dak Lak are all traced back to the central city.

These cases followed a 99-day period without a single community transmission in the Southeast Asian country.

The government has decided to reinstate enhanced social distancing in Da Nang for at least 15 days from Tuesday, similar to measures enforced nationwide in early April, when Vietnam was at the peak of the pandemic.

Authorities in the coastal city have banned crowded events, shuttered non-essential services, and stopped receiving domestic tourists to prevent the virus from spreading.

All eateries as well as takeaway and food delivery services have also been shut down in Da Nang from Thursday afternoon.

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