Good COVID-19 prevention – control work seen on Hanoi streets: official

Hanoi leaders run an online meeting with the city’s Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on August 31.(Photo: VietnamPlus)

 Hanoi (VNA) – Vice Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee Dao Duc Toan said COVID-19-related social distancing measures have been carried out effectively at stores located on streets, however, the work remains quite the opposite at those lying along small alleys or hidden corners.

Hanoi authorities have asked public competent agencies and localities to stay vigilant to the pandemic, despite the capital city recording no community infections over the past 12 days.

Eight hospitals posting low safety level

Presenting a report at an online meeting reviewing COVID-19 prevention and control work held by the municipal People’s Committee on August 31, Hoang Duc Hanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Health Department, said from August 19 to 31, the capital recorded no new cases in the community.

The department collected 73,499 samples for PCR tests of residents who returned from Da Nang city, Vietnam’s latest coronavirus hotspot, between July 15 and 29. Results showed only three people were positive for the virus.

The department also carried out health screening and checkups for 1,407 patients with symptoms of cough, high fever, and shortness of breath from August 28 to 31. Currently, there are 66 suspicious cases remaining at local hospitals.

Of 78 private and public hospitals examined, eight show a low level of safety, while three others – the Sai Gon – Hanoi, Vietnam – Japan, and Hi-tech eyes hospitals – continue to be suspended for failing to meet safety requirements.

Lieutenant General Doan Ngoc Hung, deputy head of the municipal Department of Public Security, said in the past week, the department detected six cases involving 12 illegal foreign migrants and fined 642 people for not wearing masks in public spaces. In the past two days, local police busted two karaoke shops which secretly opened without ensuring disease prevention and control measures.

Vu Ngoc Phung, Chairman of the Ha Dong People’s Committee, said the district set up 254 disease communications and monitoring groups, adding that local police are in charge of supervising the practice of distancing measures and business operations in the area.

Dong Anh district reported that schools in the district have also been recommended to resume the operation of their boards for COVID-19 prevention and control and work with parents to better prepare for the beginning of the upcoming academic year.

The district has also launched inspections of 304 medical facilities and 871 eateries.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Health Department Hoang Duc Hanh informs the meeting on the capital’s disease prevention and control work (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Ensuring realisation of “dual goals”

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Ngo Van Quy was displeased by the eight hospitals posting low safety levels. He requested relevant units to address the problem as soon as possible to ensure that 100 percent of local hospitals are safe.

Quy, who is also head of the municipal Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, pointed to shortcomings recorded most recently, including people not wearing masks in public spaces, secret operations in karaoke shops, and weak implementation of distancing measures at stores.

Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Dao Duc Toan spoke highly of progress recorded in the city’s fight against the pandemic on the part of Party committees, executive agencies and the public.

He said inspections at a number of locations showed that COVID-19-related distancing measures have been carried out effectively at stores located on streets, however, the work remains quite the opposite at those lying along small alleys or hidden corners.  

He asked COVID-19 prevention and control boards at urban and rural districts to follow directions issued by centrally-run agencies, which require simultaneous efforts in combating the pandemic and pushing socio-economic development amid the ‘new-normal’ conditions.

He suggested the expansion of charged quarantine services and urged the improvement of sanitation work particularly in areas with a large number of sites under construction./.