The process of entry, accommodation and itinerary of 2 British tourists infected with COVID-19

Until 8 am on 9^th March, Da Nang reported 02 cases of foreigners (British) infected with COVID-19. In order for the people to be proactive in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, the City Steering Committee (Steering Committee) for Disease Prevention and Control announces the process of entry, stay and route of two above-mentioned British tourists.

Meanwhile, it is recommended that people who have close contact with 02 British tourists, or have visited the aforementioned places during the period of notice should proactively monitor health. In case of showing respiratory symptoms of fever, cough, difficulty breathing and so on, they need to go to the nearest medical facility for examination immediately.

At 1pm on 7^th March, getting information that two British passengers (traveling on flight VN0054 with Vietnamese patient No. 17 infected with COVID-19) were staying at Vanda hotel, the City Health Department immediately instructed related units to investigate and verify these 02 cases and all close contacts of them during their stay in Da Nang.

At the same time, the Department of Health took the sample tests of those 2 cases. Initial test at CDC Da Nang showed that two samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus. The samples of those 02 passengers were transferred to Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang right on the night of 7^th March for confirmation tests.

Right after having the test results, the Department of Health reported to the City People’s Committee and Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.

9pm on the same day, leaders of City People’s Committee, Department of Health, related departments, sectors, unions, Hai Chau District People’s Committee, the Da Nang Disease Control Center (CDC Da Nang) and members of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control have directly headed to Vanda Hotel to lead the prevention of the outbreaks.

In particular, directing Da Nang Emergency Center to immediately take these two British tourists to Da Nang Hospital for isolation and timely monitoring; directing Hai Chau District People’s Committee, City Police and related units to instantly monitor guests staying at Vanda Hotel; Leading CDC Da Nang to conduct disinfection of Chloramine B chemical to prevent COVID-19 epidemic at Vanda hotel in the early morning of March 8th, 2020.

Also, providing Chloramine B chemicals to guide the hotel to conduct daily clean and preventive measures according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

Directing the Department of Health, Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs, City Police, District People’s Committees and relevant units to urgently investigate and classify all cases of close contact with 02 passengers (F1) and cases of close contact with F1 (F2). Immediately and strictly conducting isolation, supervision and monitoring of the above cases according to regulations right after the investigation results are available.

City Steering Committee has issued the Isolation Decision for the guests and hotel staffs who have close contacts with those 2 positive cases at the hotel.

Department of Health has appointed staff to coordinate with functional agencies and local authorities appearing in the itinerary of the affected cases in order to advise and deploy detoxification and elimination measures according to regulations.

THE PROCESS OF ENTRY, STAY AND SCHEDULE OF 02 BRITISH TOURISTS INFECTED WITH COVID-19 IN VIETNAM

According to the information provided by the two above-mentioned Britons and the verification of the authorities, the places where these two tourists passed include:

– Take a flight from London (UK) to Hanoi at 04:30 am on 2^nd March on flight VN0054 by Vietnam Airlines (same flight with Vietnamese patient No. 17 affected with COVID-19) (seat number 4D and 4G). The two only stayed within Noi Bai airport area.