Hundreds of doctors and nurses clapped their hands cheerfully after director of the municipal health department Ngo Thi Kim Yen announced the city’s decision to lift the order.

Director of the hospital Dr Le Duc Nhan said medical workers had disinfected the facility several times and all doctors and nurses had tested negative for the virus six times altogether.

As many as 340 doctors and nurses were allowed to go home after a month-long stay in the blockaded hospital and they will self-quarantine at home for 14 days under current regulations. More than 10 severe patients remain in the hospital for treatment.

According to Dr Nhan, Da Nang hospital has yet to receive patients after the lockdown order was lifted. It is set to spend two weeks continuing with clean-up efforts and training on a comprehensive care model. It is expected to receive patients with severe illnesses again as of August 28.

Da Nang general hospital, the leading health facility in Da Nang city, was isolated on July 26 after a COVID-19 patient was detected, ending a 99-day streak without a locally transmitted infection in Vietnam. Many cases have been since detected there and the virus has also spread to 15 cities and provinces, with a total of 547 cases registered.

Together with Da Nang hospital, other health facilities such as Hospital C, Da Nang Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital and two medical centers in Hai Chau and Cam Le districts had been quarantined following virus detection. All but Da Nang hospital have now reopened the door to receive patients back.