Residents asked not to leave major cities

Authorities in Hanoi and HCM cities have called on the public not to leave their residential areas during the social distancing period.

Authorities in Hanoi and HCM cities have called on the public not to leave their residential areas during the social distancing period.

  

Testing for Covid-19

Hanoi People's Committee Chairman of the Chu Ngoc Anh asked state departments to review the situation at hospitals, industrial zones, markets, quarantine zones and residential areas and be ready for stricter preventive measures. Contact tracing must be able to be rapidly carried out and people with clear symptoms like coughing and loss of taste need to be screened. Screening tests will continue to be carried out in high-risk areas.

Both public and private hospitals must submit plans for safe operation during the pandemic. Visits by relatives at hospitals must be limited. Staff may take shifts to work and stay at the hospitals for one or two weeks. Hanoi Capital City of High Command will set up more quarantine centres for 3,000-5,000 people.

Communal and ward authorities must support their residents, especially low-income and unemployed people. They must take all responsibility if they let anyone leaving their areas during the social distancing period. Anh asked all residents to stay in the city during this period. The Department of Health have been asked to work with other agencies to review and build a plan to treat up to 20,000 patients. They must report back by August 5. A pilot plan to treat 1,000 patients without symptoms or light symptoms started on August 2.

HCM City authorities also announced that the social distancing period will be extended for 14 more days starting from August 2 and people who are working in the city are asked not to leave for their home provinces.

"People who want to leave can register with the authorities with their plans," Deputy Party Secretary Phan Van Mai said. "We'll take care of everyone but we need your co-operation. People shouldn't move around freely right now. The city will vaccinate everyone so people should take their shots first before leaving, it will place less pressure on their home provinces."

Party Secretary Nguyen Van Nen said the preventive work in the city had greatly improved due to co-operation between various departments and the public. Most new cases had been found inside quarantine centres.

HCM City People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong asked for close monitoring and more support for residents. The vaccination programme must be carried out swiftly to avoid expired vaccines. The city aims to vaccinate 70% of its residents in August.

The city may organise mobile vaccination teams going to each household.