Hanoi hospital suspends admissions amid COVID-19 fears

A man returning to Hanoi from Phu Tho province has tested positive for the virus after visiting the hospital for treatment recently, Ngo Van Quy, deputy head of the Hanoi administration announced on August 19.

The man had a high temperature and a belly ache on August 10. He visited E Hospital for check-ups on August 12 and then stayed at his relatives’ house near the hospital.

The following day, he was admitted to the hospital for a chest CT scan which showed his lung had been damaged.

The patient was tested for COVID-19 by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on August 18 and the positive result was confirmed one day later.

The case has not been counted yet by the Ministry of Health.

August 19 evening saw medical workers disinfect the lane where the patient was temporarily staying. Local police also erected barriers to restrict residents’ travel.

Late August 19, the hospital issued an urgent statement saying it has suspended receiving patients and visitors since 20.00hrs the same day to “review the situation”.

This is the 12th locally acquired coronavirus case Hanoi has registered since the virus recurred in Vietnam on July 25. Most of the cases were closely linked to the Da Nang outbreak that occurred in late July.

Hanoi has tracked down more than 100,000 people recently returning from Da Nang, including 74,000 coming back between July 15-29. The city has conducted PCR tests for nearly 70,000 people and the sampling is expected to be completed on August 20.