South Korean sport shoe maker Changshin Vietnam has allowed all workers in its three factories in Dong Nai Province to be off from work for epidemic prevention following the detection of COVID-19 positive cases among its workers.

Changshin Vietnam Co. Ltd., located in Vinh Cuu District under the southern province, released the decision on Wednesday after rapid coronavirus antigen tests returned some positive cases at some workshops of the company.

Accordingly, nearly 42,000 workers at three factories in Vinh Cuu and two other districts, Long Thanh and Tan Phu, began their leave from 2:30 pm on Wednesday, said Dang Tuan Tu, the company’s trade union president.

The leave, which will last until next Monday, is aimed at protecting the health of workers and their families and the overall community, Tu said.

During the leave period, the company will disinfect all its premises, identify all direct contacts of the positive coronavirus cases, and continue the rapid testing for those workers who have yet to be tested, the trade union president said.

“Depending on the actual situation, the company will issue further notice to its workers," he said.

Following the detection of COVID-19 infections at Changshin Vietnam, the Dong Nai administration is considering to blockade two related locations, Trang Dai in Bien Hoa City and Thanh Phu Ward in Vinh Cuu District, said Phan Huy Anh Vu, director of the provincial Department of Health.

As Changshin Vietnam is a labor-intensive manufacturer, whose workers are living in many rented houses and residential areas, the department has warned about risks of new infection clusters in the coming time.

Dong Nai health workers confirmed 177 coronavirus infections on Thursday morning, which have taken the province’s tally of patients to 697 cases since April 27, when the pandemic’s fourth wave erupted in Vietnam.

Among the latest cases, 82 were detected in Dong Nai's Bien Hoa City, while 34 and 24 cases were reported respectively in Cam My and Nhon Trach, two districts in the province.

Bien Hoa is leading the province in infection rates, at 42 percent of the total COVID-19 cases, followed by the districts of Thong Nhat, Nhon Trach, and Cam My.

Recent COVID-19 outbreaks in Dong Nai originated from people coming from wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City, the local health department said.

The Ministry of Health confirmed 805 coronavirus cases on Thursday morning, taking Vietnam’s total patient number to 38,239, including 9,624 recoveries and 138 deaths, as recorded since early 2020.

Since April 27, the Southeast Asian country has registered 43,710 domestic infections. 

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!