According to the chairman, the COVID-19 situation has been complicated and unpredictable as a large number of infections have been recorded in Ho Chi Minh City and northern provinces.
From July 5 to 7, Hanoi has recorded 16 infections in districts, namely, My Duc (7), Dong Anh (6), Hoang Mai (1), Dong Da (1) and Me Linh (1). Some of them are those with epidemiological factors related to pandemic-hit areas such as Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An and Bac Giang provinces.
Hanoi faces high risk of COVID-19 spreading, Anh stressed, asking heads of departments and sectors and chairpersons of the People’s Committees of districts, towns, communes and wards to tighten discipline in obeying COVID-19 prevention and control measures in the new situation.
He ordered strong communication campaign on coronavirus preventive measures and tough punishments for those violating COVID-19 prevention and control regulations.
Under the document, all citizens are required to seriously follow measures against COVID-19 as guided by the central level and the municipal authorities, and avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people in public places.
Service establishments and indoor restaurants must strictly comply with regulations and close before 9pm daily.
Competent authorities and relevant agencies are assigned to monitor all transportation activities and passengers on public vehicles coming from pandemic-hit areas to Hanoi and vice versa.
Meanwhile, local authorities are responsible for tightening the management of all arrivals in Hanoi. From 6pm on July 7, all returnees from Ho Chi Minh City and other pandemic-hit provinces are subject to compulsory medical declaration and under quarantine at home within seven days in accordance with the Health Ministry’s Decision 879/QD-BYT dated March 12, 2020. This excludes those who took public business trips and complied with all pandemic prevention measures.
All arrivals are requested to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 three times on the first day, the third day and the sixth day from the date they arrive in Hanoi, then self-monitor their health for seven days. If there are symptoms like signs of fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing or loss of taste, among others, they must immediately notify the nearest local authority or medical facility for guidance.
Chairman Anh called on local people to minimize travel to pandemic-hit regions and Ho Chi Minh City. Those who have to travel for work at agencies, organizations, industrial parks, that are based in HCM City and other pandemic prone areas, must have approval from the authorities and must strictly comply with pandemic prevention and control regulations.
He urged the Department of Health to direct medical facilities to strictly follow prevention and control protocol, conduct screenings to timely detect suspected cases, and prepare plans to respond to the development of the pandemic.
The municipal Management Board of Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones should continue to take drastic measures against COVID-19 in industrial parks and export processing zones; enhance inspection and impose strict punishment on violation cases, he requested.
The mayor ordered the city's police in collaboration with the Department of Transport, district-level People's Committees to strengthen the operation of checkpoints at piers, inter-provincial bus stations, and mobile checkpoints at the gateway routes to and from the capital.