The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have suggested easing social distancing rules after September 21 if the Covid-19 pandemic situation remains stable.
A quiet street in Hanoi during the social distancing period
Speaking with Dantri/Dtinews on September 13, vice director of Hanoi CDC, Khong Minh Tuan revealed that the city had so far conducted Covid-19 testing for 50 percent of the population.
"The outbreak has basically been brought under control," he said. "The number of new daily infections are falling and there have been fewer detected in the community."
Tuan said that if the situation remains the same in the coming days, Hanoi CDC would propose that local authorities loosen social distancing measures in low-risk areas. However, red zones with many infections would continue to be tightly locked down.
On Monday, Hanoi reported 41 new Covid-19 cases who were all found in quarantine and locked down areas. The capital city has so far recorded 3,817 infections since the fourth outbreak started in late April.
Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City plans to continue imposing social distancing rules until late September amid the sustained threat of Covid-19, according to vice-chairman of the municipal people's committee, Duong Anh Duc.
A corner of Ho Chi Minh City during the social distancing time
According to the official, HCM City is also considering the application of green or yellow Covid-19 cards based on their vaccination status; green for two jabs, yellow for one. The cards will play an important role in controlling the movement of people during the economic reopening and recovery period.However, more time is required for the city’s vaccination data to be put on technology platforms as it has not been fully updated and synchronised yet.
The southern metropolis is in the process of speeding up its vaccination campaign and has administered nearly eight million Covid-19 vaccine doses. But it will take time for the vaccination to prove its effectiveness according to the health ministry.
