Vietnam, over the past two days, has sent medical staff and armed forces to the northern province of Bac Giang, the Covid-19 hotspot and home to hundreds of foreign-invested companies.

Mobile police before leaving for a mission in Bac Giang on May 17. Photo: VietNamNet

The move aims to stamp out the rising number of novel coronavirus cases in Van Trung, Quang Chau, and Dinh Tram industrial parks (IP) in Bac Giang, where is about 50 km away from Hanoi.

About 300 mobile policemen on May 17 set out for the province, where recorded 350 infections over the past days, accounting for one-third of Vietnam’s total caseload in the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, which began on April 29.

The policemen will assume responsibility for preventing and handling violations in the fight against Covid-19 in the province.

Testing at Hosiden Vietnam Co., Ltd in Quang Chau Industrial Park, Bac Giang. Photo: Hoang Giam

They will also help keep the upcoming national election safe on May 23 when voters nationwide cast their ballots to elect members of the National Assembly, the country’s highest legislative body, and the People’s Council at all levels for the 2021-2026 term, in the province.

The province is facing a high number of people who have been in close contact with infected cases. It’s estimated to climb to more than 6,000 people at present.

Health experts have predicted that the number would surge in the coming days due to widespread transmission among workers in the IPs.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long has recently attributed the rapid transmission to air-conditioned spaces.

On May 16, Sen. Lt. Gen Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence asked Military Medical University, Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center, and the 108 Military Central Hospital to support testing in Bac Giang. Meanwhile, Military Zone No.1 is ready to build makeshift hospitals to assist the Covid-19 battle in the locality.

Military personnel conduct disinfection in Bac Giang. Photo: Baobacgiang

Bac Giang hotspot

The Covid-19 pandemic has left four districts of Viet Yen, Lang Giang, Luc Nam, and Yen Dung under social distancing. The most affected companies include South Korea-invested Shinyoung Vietnam Co., Ltd, SJ TECH Vietnam Co., Ltd, and Japan-invested Hosiden Vietnam Co., Ltd, where recorded 158 Covid-19 cases in the last three days.

Given rapid transmission in Hosiden, deputy chairman of the Bac Giang People’s Committee Mai Son said the local government will conduct mandatory quarantine of all 4,000 workers, who will be separated into different groups basing on the levels of risk.

Hanoi's health professionals come to support Bac Giang on May 16. Photo: Kinh Te Do Thi

Son said the province will also test workers of all Bac Giang-based South Korean companies after the first Covid-19 infections at industrial parks were found to have linked with a South Korea-invested firm.

As of May 16, Bac Giang has tested roughly 90,000 out of total 160,000 workers in the province.

Bac Giang is now facing weak medical capacity in testing and treatment, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said in an inspection visit to the province on May 16.

"It requires the province to have a separate zone to treat Covid-19 patients and speed up the testing," Son said.

The province is facing a high number of people who have been in close contact with infected cases. It’s estimated to climb to more than 12,000 people at present.

Quang Ninh's health workers before leaving to support Bac Giang on May 15. Photo: VGP

Bac Giang, with an area of more than 3,800 square km and more than 1.8 million residents, is home to six industrial parks (IP) covering an area of 1,322 ha, including five operating ones namely Dinh Tram, Van Trung, Quang Chau, Hoa Phu, Song Khe-Noi Hoang.

The province’s IPs accommodate more than 400 projects, including three-fourth that are foreign-invested. Investors have committed to pouring US$6.3 billion into the province, channeled to fields like energy, electronics, solar panels, among others.