Binh Duong factories find Covid infections despite having workers live on-site

Estec Vina at the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) 1 has recorded over 340 cases since July 19, though its workers have been staying in the premises since July 19.

Truong Hung Dung, head of the company’s labor union, said the entire workforce of 1,700 was supposed to be tested on July 19, but health authorities were only able to dispatch personnel four days later, and by that time 136 people had already contracted the infection.

Over 700 people have now been isolated in the factory.

"Many areas in the factory are closed and with air-conditioning, and the delay in testing resulted in the spread of the disease," Dung said.

Estec Vina is one of 18 companies at the VSIP to have found Covid cases after workers began to live on-site.

Several other industrial parks in Binh Duong have also found infections. Two factories in Tan Uyen Commune have reported 270 cases, while in Di An Town, a wood manufacturer has had 248.

Head of the park labor union, Dang Thi Kim Chi, said one of the reasons is that many companies let workers stay before testing them.

Bui Thanh Nhan, secretary of the Di An Party committee said there are over 4,000 companies in the town, and some let their workers have quick tests and begin working before reporting to authorities.

The large number also meant authorities did not have enough time to check all of them, he said.

Nguyen Hong Chuong, director of the province health department, said another reason is that factories do not strictly impose social distancing and let outsiders come in.

They should have staff dedicated to isolating and taking care of workers who have contracted the disease, and a quarantine area, he added.

One company that has done this is Chinese electronics manufacturer TCL which has had a quarantine area since July 7.

Workers manufacture electronics products at a factory of TCL Vietnam in Binh Duong Province. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuong.

This keeps the factory with over 1,000 workers operational, head of the company’s labor union, Dao Minh Tinh, said.

Over 3,700 companies have registered to have 390,000 workers stay in their premises.

The province has had over 9,500 Covid cases in the latest wave, including 2,000 factory workers.