Social distancing imposed on locality as coronavirus spreads

Barriers have been erected at the entrance to Kim Dien village in Chi Linh city to prevent locals entering or going out from the locality.

As many as 73 cases have been detected in Hai Duong as of 12.00hrs on January 28 since the virus was confirmed several hours earlier.

“We decided to lock down Cong Hoa ward of Chi Linh city where the first case was detected, and at the same time impose social distancing on Chi Linh city,” Pham Xuan Thang, Hai Duong provincial Party Committee Secretary, told reporters in Hanoi on January 28.

Thang was attending the ongoing national congress of the Party Central Committee at Hanoi’s National Convention Centre.

“We suspended activities of large gatherings in the public, and immediately examine all production workshops in the province,” said Thang.

The female patient announced by the Ministry of Health early on January 28 works for Poyun Electronics Co. Ltd. at Cong Hoa industrial park in Chi Linh city.  

According to the Party official, on hearing about the case, the local administration worked closely with the Ministry of Health to track down and test approximately 2,300 Poyun workers and those related.

“Those factories that fail to fully observe preventive measures will be forced to suspend from operation,” said Thang, adding that these measures have been tightened at health facilities and relevant agencies.

The local administration has also decided to close schools as of January 28, more than a week ahead of schedule to prevent the virus spreading further.

School students are scheduled to have seven days off schooling activities to celebrate the traditional lunar New Year holiday, starting February 8.