Vietnam reports first coronavirus case in nearly 100 days

HANOI: Vietnam on Saturday has detected its first locally transmitted case of coronavirus in nearly 100 days, a country whose full lockdown won praise for containing the outbreak of the disease.

According to details, ‘Patient 416’ is a 57-year-old retired Vietnamese man in the southern city of Danang, and the first case of community transmission since April 16. To prevent a wider outbreak, the Health Ministry informed that it was conducting extensive screening and testing in all at-risk areas in Danang.

Health Officials further said they had tested and quarantined almost 105 people who had been in close contact with the patient and were tracing others. So far, no other positive cases have surfaced.

The local authorities have informed that the patient has no record of recent travel and appears to be a homebody who spends most of his time looking after his grandchildren. Health Ministry said, “The patient is currently on ventilator support due to respiratory failure,” adding that his family believes his contacts with others were limited.

Danang has been packed with local tourists returning to its beaches and restaurants since Vietnam lifted its lockdown. Vietnam has recorded just 416 virus cases. The country has not reported a single death from Covid-19.

Health officials, noting that mask use in Vietnam had become lax, urged members of the public to resume wearing them, especially in crowded places and on public transportation.