Vietnam Sees First Coronavirus Death After Sudden Burst of Cases
Vietnam Reports First Death From Coronavirus Infection, Local Media Reports
(Bloomberg) -- Vietnam, which for more than three months appeared to have beaten back the novel coronavirus, confirmed its first death from the pandemic after a sudden cluster emerged in the coastal city of Danang.
The death of the 70-year-old man comes about seven months after the nation recorded its first virus cases. The man, who had a history of high blood pressure and other health problems, was being treated for kidney disease at a Danang hospital when he tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. He died as a result of a heart attack and complications from Covid-19, according to a posting on the Ministry of Health website.
The fatality is the latest sign that Vietnam’s virus situation is worsening amid a surge of local infections in Danang after months of calm. The country is joining a number of other areas that had appeared to control outbreaks, such as Japan and Australia’s state of Victoria, only to find they can’t entirely keep out the pathogen.
Vietnam was one of the few countries in Asia to have zero confirmed deaths. Laos and Cambodia still have not reported a fatality tied to Covid-19.
The death on Friday came as Vietnam confirmed 56 new local cases, with most in Danang. Many of the confirmed patients had already been put under quarantine. Vietnam has reported 104 local virus cases linked to Danang since July 25, bringing the country’s overall infections to 546.
The new outbreak has rattled investors, with Vietnam’s benchmark VN Index losing as much as 5.1% this week. It has also jolted government leaders, who quickly issued a stay-at-home order for Danang. The capital of Hanoi and commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, both of which have reported new virus cases tied to Danang, have ordered bars to close and suspended large gatherings, such as religious ceremonies. Hanoi has two confirmed virus patients and Ho Chi Minh City, five.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of domestic tourists flooded Danang International Airport to escape the country’s new virus hot zone. Hanoi authorities are conducting tests for the virus through Saturday on more than 21,000 people returning to the city from Danang.
Danang’s authorities shut down three hospitals where virus patients had visited and quarantined all other patients, their caregivers, medical staff, and workers -- about 5,594 people in all, according to the city’s health department. Another 5,753 people have been isolated at centralized bases, health centers and homes. A fourth hospital was locked down late Wednesday night, Thanh Nien newspaper reported.
The Health Ministry on Thursday issued emergency bulletins listing more than two dozen potential virus hotspots across the country, including a Danang supermarket, a Hanoi pizza restaurant and a Ho Chi Minh City mall. Those who had visited the venues are directed to send their personal information -- and details about those with whom they have been in contact -- to the ministry.
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