Vietnam has detected a person infected with the novel coronavirus in the community, breaking a 99-day zero local transmission streak.
The Ministry of Health on Friday announced that a 57-year-old man in the central city of Danang tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 three times after he was admitted to Danang C Hospital with symptoms of fever, cough, and sputum.
The tests based on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) conducted by Danang C Hospital and the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute on July 23-24 all showed positive, Vietnam Insider reported.
The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will conduct the test one more time for affirmation.
Authorized agencies have taken samples on more than 100 people who made contact with the man. Results show that all of them are negative for the virus.
After the detection of the case, Danang C Hospital has been put under lockdown while local authorities are continuing with contact tracing.
According to Vietnam Insider, this case has triggered some concerns over the source of infections. It’s unknown how and when the man was infected with the virus but his traveling history over the past month indicated that he didn’t travel out of Danang and has stayed within the neighborhood in Lien Chieu district.
Danang, one of biggest cities in Vietnam, has reported no coronavirus infections since April 10.
This coastal city is one of tourist attractions in Vietnam with famous beaches, Cham architecture, and modern amusement parks.