Hanoi prepares disease prevention measures for reopening of int’l flights

Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi pledged to continue efforts to well quarantine people who enter Vietnam from abroad and prepare conditions for paid quarantine when the Government reopens international flights.

At a virtual meeting organised by the municipal steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control on September 11, the city’s leading officials requested units to maintain the strict implementation of disease prevention and control measures as well as socio-economic development solutions, although the capital city has not recorded any new infections in the community for 25 consecutive days.

Well conducting concentrated quarantine

Speaking at the event, Hoang Duc Hanh, Deputy Director of the municipal Health Department, said that from September 9-11, the health sector checked up 1,901 patients with symptoms of cough, fever and shortness of breath.

With synchronous and active measures, the capital city has reported no new cases in the community since August 17.

Regarding the 25-year-old female patient in Binh Phu commune, Thach That district, a leading official from the district People’s Committee said that she is a Vietnamese student in the Republic of Korea, who had returned to Vietnam in May. She had been quarantined right after her arrival in central Da Nang city, and finished her quarantine period and returned to Hanoi on June 10.

During her stay in Hanoi, she rarely went out of the district, and only visited Vietnam-Germany International Dental Clinic in Hoan Kiem district and conducted visa application procedures at the French Embassy in Hanoi.

On September 3, the patient entered France after transiting through Qatar. Her sample was taken for testing on September 4, which affirmed she was positive to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on September 8.

“The Health Department requested relevant units to promptly investigate and identify 15 people involved, take samples for testing which showed negative results, and quarantine them as regulated,” the official stated.

A representative from the city’s Military Command said that the unit has well done the reception, transportation and quarantine of Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad. At present, more than 800 people are currently quarantined at the unit, with quarantine conditions ensured in accordance with the health sector’s regulations.

Meanwhile, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports reported that currently eight hotels with 915 rooms are being used as concentrated quarantine facilities, with their capacity reaching nearly 41 percent.

In addition, 16 other hotels with around 1,500 rooms and over 2,000 beds have just registered to serve concentrated quarantine.


Preparing conditions to loosen several activities

Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc said that although Hanoi has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, its economy is growing with budget collection reaching nearly 60 percent of the estimate.

Despite complicated developments of the pandemic, the city managed to successfully organise important activities, such as opening ceremonies of the new academic year, examinations, and activities in celebration of major events of the nation and the city.

Ngoc, however, asked the municipal steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control to take more specific measures.

She noted that after international commercial flights are resumed, the number of people who need supervision and quarantine will surely increase.

The official asked relevant sectors such as health, army and public security should carry out more accurate forecasts to have proactive and appropriate measures. Authorised forces should prepare conditions in terms of materials and collect fees from concentrated quarantine and ensure safety for quarantined people at hotels.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Ngo Van Quy, who is also head of the steering committee, said that the city has not recorded new cases in the community for 25 straight days, but it should be noted that there are pathogens in the community and there is a risk of virus spreading.

He asked relevant sectors and units to stay vigilant, and make good preparations to welcome more Vietnamese returning from foreign countries.

They were requested to continue stepping up the dissemination of information to encourage locals to implement disease prevention and control measures, quickly carry out tracing, localising and disease eliminating measures if new cases are detected, and intensify disease prevention work at factories and restaurants.

Quy stressed the importance of well organizing quarantine for those entering Vietnam, prepare conditions to collect fees from concentrated quarantine when the Government reopens international commercial flights, and pay attention to preventing other diseases./.