Hanoi (VNA) – TheHealth Ministry has decided to remove patient No.994 out of the list ofCOVID-19 cases after he tested negative to SARS-CoV-2 at the Central Hospitalfor Tropical Diseases and the National Institute ofHygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), reported acting Health Minister NguyenThanh Long.

At a meeting of the NationalSteering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on August 20, Longsaid the patient tested negative twice on August 19 night and twice on August20 morning at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Test result at the NIHE alsoshowed the same result on August 20 afternoon.

He is now under quarantine atthe second branch of the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

He tested positive for thevirus for the first time by the NIHE on August 19 morning and he was reportedto become the 994th COVID-19 case on August 20 morning.

In the past one month, thepatient did not leave his residence at Khai Xuan commune, Thanh Ba district,the northern midland province of Phu Tho. His family members also did nottravel to pandemic-hit areas.

On August 11, he had a feverand bellyache. A day later, he had health check-up at E Hospital in Hanoi and stayedat his relative’s house in Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi.

After the patient tested positive forSARS-CoV-2, the E Hospitalstopped receiving new patients from 8pm on August 19.

On August 19 night, 83samples from his family members, medical staff and those who had contact withhim at the hospital were also collected and tested. No case has been foundpositive to the virus so far.

After the steering committeedecided to remove the patient from the list of COVID-19 cases in the afternoonof August 20, the Health Ministry has allowed the E Hospital to re-open./.