The building where a confirmed COVID-19 case live in Hai Ba Trung district was under lockdown on January 29 morning (Photo: VNA) Chairmanof the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh on January 28 night issued anurgent official dispatch to the city’s departments, agencies and People’sCommittees at all levels to prepare for any COVID-19 response scenario. Thecity expects to complete the testing by February 1.
TheDepartment of Health was asked to cooperate with local authorities totrace, identify, offer testing and monitor the health of people who havereturned from the outbreak-affected areas and those who have been incontact with returnees.
Thedepartment would also closely work with the Health Ministry’s PreventiveMedicine Department and health departments of other localities, particularly HaiDuong and Quang Ninh provinces to trace suspected cases.
Localhospitals and healthcare units were asked to tighten disease prevention and controlmeasures.
Thechairman asked for tightened controls on entry, health monitoring andquarantine, especially measures to prevent infections in quarantine areas orspread to the community.
Agencieswere also asked to instruct people to strictly follow the health ministry’s 5K(in Vietnamese) message: Khau trang (facemask) – Khu khuan (disinfection)– Khoang cach (distance) – Khong tu tap (no gathering) – Khai bao y te (health declaration).
Authoritiesalso called on people report suspected cases of illegal entries orviolations in disease prevention and control.
Policewould cooperate with relevant units to tighten inspections, detection andprevention of illegal entries. The army would continue to help the healthdepartment, districts and townships to arrange sufficient quarantine areas incase the pandemic resurges in the city.
Mediaoutlets were asked to help people understand and implement requirementsand recommendations by the health ministry, National Steering Committee forCOVID-19 Prevention and Control and city authorities.
Thetransport department will increase oversight at coach and railwaystations, as well as over public transportation.
Coachoperators have to record information of passengers who travel oninter-provincial routes, particularly those going to or from localities withreported community infections.
Thedepartment on January 28 ordered the suspension of road transport between thecapital city and the northern province of Quang Ninh.
Atthe same time, the department asked all transport services to strictlyapply measures to prevent the spread of the virus, by requesting driversand passengers to wear face masks throughout their trips and providing handsanitisers.
TheDepartment of Culture and Sports would review and consult the municipal People’sCommittee about the organisations of festivals and events.
TheDepartment of Industry and Trade will introduce inspections at shoppingcentres, supermarkets, markets and convenience stores. Shoppers must wearface masks and keep a safe distance.
Vietnamrecorded nine new community infections of COVID-19 over thepast 12 hours as of 6am on January 29.
Amongthose, there is one living in Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung district. The patient hadbeen in close contact with a security worker at the Van Don InternationalAirport, who tested positive on January 27./.
VNA
