On the afternoon of April 7, the Hanoi Center for Disease Control recorded two additional cases, the sister-in-law and neighbor of patient 243, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 for the first time. The patient’s wife tested negative.
In addition, the child Q.T.M (born in 2016), who was frequently cared for by patient 243, showed symptoms of a 38-degree fever and has been transferred to Central Tropical Diseases Hospital facility 2 for isolation, examination, and treatment.
In an emergency meeting of the Hanoi COVID-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee, Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung stated that patient 243 had visited many places with large gatherings of people.
At the same time, at 5 PM on April 7, the Ministry of Health issued urgent notice number 12, requesting anyone who was present during the time and at the locations where patient 243 had been to contact the provincial/city disease control centers for guidance and health monitoring.
Through epidemiological history investigation, it was determined that on the morning of March 12, patient 243 Q.Q.T. took his wife to the Department of Outpatient – Allergy Immunology Clinic, Bach Mai Hospital.
The patient took his wife to the examination area for blood tests, ultrasound, and to buy medicine.
While waiting for the test results, the couple had lunch (at 10:30 AM) at the ordinary rice shop number 31, alley 75 Giai Phong (there were only the two of them during the meal), and did not buy food or go to the cafeteria of Bach Mai Hospital.
After the examination, the patient took his wife home by motorbike, arriving home around 12 PM. During the examination, he stated that he wore a mask.
On March 14 – 15, the patient attended a wedding of his niece nearby and visited several tables of guests.
On March 15, Mr. T. attended a funeral meal at his mother-in-law’s house (Ha Loi village, Me Linh commune) and had contact with many family members, including several elderly individuals (this list is currently being investigated further by Me Linh district).
From March 20-22, he visited friends’ houses in the same village.
On March 21, Mr. T. felt achy and had a fever (without measuring temperature), thinking he had the flu, so he went to a nearby pharmacy (run by Ms. N.T.H.) to buy a pack of flu medicine (he didn’t remember the name). The next day, Mr. T. felt less achy and had no fever.
From March 22-26, Mr. T. delivered flowers at Quang Ba flower market (Tay Ho district) in the evenings, wearing a mask regularly and showing no unusual health symptoms. He had contact with many family members to purchase and package flowers at home before selling them at Quang Ba market.
On March 30, Mr. T. was informed that those who visited Bach Mai Hospital from March 10-28 needed to report their health. He was advised by the commune health station to monitor his health at home.
On April 2, Mr. T. visited a gravesite and then had lunch with four other relatives.
On April 3-4, Mr. T. continued to purchase, prepare, and deliver flowers at Quang Ba flower market.
From April 2-5, Mr. T. had contact with family members and visited his two older brothers; he also repaired a motorbike at his brother Q.’s house (across the street); and bought instant noodles and rat poison at the house of Mr. T. and Ms. H. (in the same area).
On the afternoon of April 4, Mr. T. took his sister-in-law and nephew to Phuc Yen General Hospital. There, he had contact with several doctors. On the same day, he along with some family members visited Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital to visit his sister-in-law and had contact with a doctor who examined her (while wearing a mask).
At 5 PM on April 5, Mr. T. and his younger brother (Q.D.T.) went to Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital by motorbike. There, he had contact with a doctor at 8:30 AM (did not remember the name). During his time at the hospital, he mainly sat in the waiting room and returned home at 11:30 PM.
On April 6, Mr. Q.Q.T. received a positive test result for Covid-19 and was taken to isolation and treatment at Central Tropical Diseases Hospital facility 2 (Dong Anh, Hanoi).
By 11 AM on April 7, the Hanoi CDC had identified 104 F1 cases; collected samples from 90 cases and transferred them to the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology at 3 AM on April 7. 31 cases were transferred to isolation at Me Linh General Hospital; 35 cases at Bac Thang Long Hospital, with the remaining cases isolating at home.
The Hanoi CDC is continuing to review related cases. The Me Linh district health center has disinfected the related locations.
In a report about patient 243, Me Linh district indicated that after discovering the patient tested positive, the district coordinated with the CDC to transfer the patient to the Tropical Diseases Hospital facility 2. Me Linh also implemented a review and isolation of those who had close contact with the patient. 67 F1 cases have been sampled and isolated; additionally, over 100 F2 cases are being reviewed and organized for isolation. Me Linh commune is continuing to vigorously implement local tasks.
Due to patient 143’s extensive movement and contact, the F1 and F2 cases are related to 6 out of 9 hamlets in Ha Loi village, making the situation very complicated. Me Linh proposed that the city implement the isolation of the entire Ha Loi village to ensure no spread to neighboring communes and the community.