Leaves turning brown

The Hanoitimes – The Hanoi Party Committee has urged the people and authorities of Hanoi to strengthen measures to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic in the capital city.

The Health Ministry confirmed four more Covid-19 cases in Hanoi on February 1, while the Covid-19 threat advisory was elevated.

The latest patients are two women residing in Nam Tu Liem and Cau Giay districts of Hanoi and a couple living in Me Linh district.

All of them got infected with the new coronavirus after having contact with people who were later confirmed Covid-19 infections in the northern province of Hai Duong, the biggest cluster of Covid-19 in Vietnam with 188 cases confirmed since Covid-19.

The new patients have raised Hanoi’s caseload of the Covid-19 resurgence to 19 and 242 nationwide.

Hanoi turns on high alert on Covid-19 prevention. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

The Hanoi Party Committee has urged the people and authorities of Hanoi to strengthen measures to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic in the capital city.

The whole city must review and tighten the anti-epidemic measures, especially in medical establishments, schools, industrial parks, factories, and areas of public gatherings.

Relevant agencies were urged to review procedures related to concentrated quarantine, as all citizens returning from abroad must be quarantined for two weeks and could only leave the facilities if they test negative for Covid-19 twice.

People are urged to further comply with Covid-19 prevention regulations and conduct precautionary measures of quick testing, contact tracing, masking up in public places, and washing hands.

The city’s agencies have to continue disseminating the “5K” message of the Ministry of Health since, they said, the good observance of the 5K is a “steel shield” to protect people from the Covid-19 pandemic. 5K means ” Khau trang ” (face mask) – ” Khu khuan ” (disinfection) – ” Khoang cach ” (distance) – ” Khong tu tap ” (no gatherings) – ” Khai bao y te ” (health declaration).

Besides, localities in Hanoi must tighten supervision of people arriving from abroad and the pandemic-hit areas, enforce Covid-19 prevention regulations at concentrated quarantine facilities.

Especially, the city’s Department of Health needs to keep close watch on the pandemic evolution by imposing five step protocol namely preventing, detecting, quarantining, zoning, and stamping out the outbreaks.

In addition, Hanoi authorities need to provide accurate, timely and transparent information for people; prevent and enforce regulations on fake news that causes confusion in public as well as actively detect and handle illegal entry.

Localities in Hanoi must proactively put in place the pandemic prevention and control measures, applying social distance or isolation based on the level of Covid-19 risk for each area in the locality.

The Hanoitimes – 145 hotels in Vietnam signed up as isolation centers for the coronavirus-infected people.

According to the General Department of Tourism, as of March 22, up to 145 hotels across the country have volunteered to host quarantined people.

A receptionist is guiding the guests to fill out the medical declaration form.

Hotels mobilized to serve as mass quarantine facilities are two- to five-star ones in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Quang Ninh and Dong Nai. These accommodation facilities pledged to quote prices of their services.

This list of the paid quarantine centers will be reported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to select and turn them into isolation facilities.

On March 20, the Ministry of Health issued instructions under which if a person wishes undergo the mandatory quarantine at a hotel, he/she needs pay room charges and other services. The quarantine period is 14 days from entry or final contact with people suspected of contracting the coronavirus.

Hotels used for isolation will not serve other purposes and ensure essential living conditions such as electricity, water, sanitation, bathroom, ventilation, as well as being safe and convenient for accessing.

They are required to set up checkpoints, security teams and hang the warning sign “Authorized personnel only”. Unauthorized people are prohibited from entering the hotel.

The hotels have to establish disinfection point for means of transport at the hotel entrance. All vehicles entering and leaving the hotel should be disinfected.

The area for isolated people needs to be separated from other functional areas such as reception, living, kitchen, dining room and bars entrance of unauthorized people.

At the same time, the hotel are asked to erect fences to control people entering and leaving the quarantine area.

Hotel staff will be trained to serve isolated people who have wear facial masks and are asked to refrain from talking.

The localities are responsible for assisting and monitoring the quarantine at the hotel. Those who do not comply with the quarantine regulations will be handled.

On March 5, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism asked 25 localities to select tourist accommodation establishments for paid quarantine.