13 COVID-19 patients recover in Hai Duong province

Thirteen patients in a COVID-19 treatment hospital in Hai Duong province, the country’s current largest coronavirus hotspot, were given the all-clear on February 24. (Photo: VNA)

Hai Duong – Thirteen patients in a COVID-19 treatment hospital in Hai Duong province, the country’s current largest coronavirus hotspot, were given the all-clear on February 24.

The patients, who were treated at the COVID-19 hospital set up within the campus of the Hai Duong Medical Technical University in Hai Duong city, will undergo 14-day home quarantine under the supervision of local authorities and test for the coronavirus before the end of the quarantine.

The total number of recovered patients in the province now reaches 225.

According to the provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, over the past 24 hours to 16:00 on February 24, Hai Duong had reported 11 cases, raising its count to 636.

The province has collected nearly 300,000 samples for COVID-19 testing so far. It plans to conduct large-scale testing for the novel coronavirus, using Realtime-PCR technology, from February 24.

The move aims to measure the spread of COVID-19 in the province to help it respond better to the disease while identifying safe areas to boost economic recovery.

People targeted by the testing are divided into three groups: the high-risk group who are people from Chi Linh and Hai Duong cities, and Kim Thanh and Cam Giang districts; the medium-risk including people from the districts of Kinh Mon, Nam Sach and Binh Giang; and the low-risk comprising those from Ninh Giang, Thanh Ha, Tu Ky, Gia Loc and Thanh Mien.

Hai Duong now has six labs for COVID-19 testing using Realtime-PCR, located in the provincial Centre for Disease Control, General Hospital, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Children’s Hospital, Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital, and the Hospital of Hai Duong Medical Technical University.

The province is now capable of collecting 50,000 to 60,000 samples and processing as much as 8,500 individual test samples on a daily basis. The results normally come out after 24 hours.