At the meeting, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung requested the Ministry of Health to set up standards in transporting samples of suspected Covid-19 cases, which could simplify the testing procedures.
Meanwhile, Chung expected four hospitals, including Bach Mai Hospital, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, and National Children Hospital to assist Hanoi in conducting PCR tests from August 8.
Chung suggested Ministry of Health to conduct PCR test for people returning from Danang and other cities hit by the Covid-19 pandemic to Hanoi from July 15 - 29.
Additionally, Chung said the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases No.2 should continue to receive Covid-19 patients in Hanoi, with Bac Thang Long and Me Linh field hospitals being on standby when the National Hospital of tropical Diseases is overloaded.
Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long agreed with proposals from Hanoi’s leaders, including raising Covid-19 alert to higher level and requesting people to wear face masks in public places, as well as installing contact tracing app Bluezone.
Long said the government identifies testing as key solution in Covid-19 fight, while Hanoi has high risk of Covid-19 infections.
Long requested all four hospitals to conduct PCR tests for 70,000 samples in Hanoi, adding the safety of Hanoi is of priority of the Ministry of Health.
