extensive testing campaign at bac giang covid-19 hotspot picture 1
The fourth COVID-19 wave has struck Vietnam since late April, with Bac Giang being the worst hit locality which accounts for more than half the country’s number of new infections
The epicenter of the fresh outbreak has turned to Bac Giang’s Viet Yen district where the virus has spread to crowded Quang Chau and Van Trung industrial parks (IPs). Besides IP employees, more than 200,000 local residents have been tested for COVID-19.
During the extensive testing campaign, as many as 160,000 employees have been sampled for testing. Notably, Employees at Hosiden Vietnam Co. Ltd., a high-risk area, have been tested three times a day.
Healthcare workers have even stayed overnight on testing. They have so far collected nearly 650,000 samples and returned 637,000 results.
In a tight personal protective suit, healthcare workers find it hard to work in the midst of hot summer weather, with many soaked in sweat.
Wearing medical gloves for a long time, both hands of a healthcare worker look as if they are soaked in water for hours.
To speed up testing, the Ministry of Health has decided to carry out the quick antigen testing campaign in the community and at industrial parks in Bac Giang.
By applying the new method, testing results will come back in just 15 minutes with the accuracy of 70-75%.
Bac Giang has logged nearly 1,700 out of more than 3,200 new cases confirmed nationwide by the Ministry of Health.