Local authorities urged to promote check of suspected COVID-19 cases hinh anh 1A policeman of the division for exit and entry management under the Hanoi Department of Public Security handles procedures for a citizen (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Local authorities must promote their role in checking suspected cases of COVID-19, heard a meeting of the national steering committee for preventing and combating the disease held in Hanoi on March 23.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the committee, chaired the event.

Since the infection rate of passengers on flight has been constantly surging in recent days, forces at airports need to intensify the management of those entering Vietnam and carry out quarantine as regulated to minimise the transmission of the virus among the community, members of the committee said.

They urged the health ministry to guide cities and provinces to accelerate the tests, as well as work with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to ensure sufficient medical equipment.

Localities should coordinate with the education and labour sectors to prepare more quarantine areas, including self-paid ones for diplomatic and official passport holders and experts working in key projects in Vietnam, and important trade partners of the country.

The concentrated quarantine must be carried out free of charge and without discrimination for Vietnamese citizens, the committee stressed.

Vietnam has so far recorded 121 infection cases, including 16 having fully recovered and been discharged from hospital and with no death./.
VNA