HN to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for all residents

The sector needs to review its current medical resources and can even mobilize retired health workers for the fight against the ongoing outbreak, while concerned agencies work together to prioritise the purchase of vaccine for all residents using local budget and rallying legal resources, he said.

Mr. Hue made the point on February 2 in Ha Noi at a meeting of the Standing Board of the People’s Council of Ha Noi on COVID-19 prevention and control.

The Department of Health reported that as of late February 2, Ha Noi confirmed 21 infections in relations to Hai Duong and Quang Ninh outbreaks including Cau Giay district (3), Nam Tu Liem district (10), Hai Ba Trung district (2), Me Linh rural district (3), and Dong Anh rural district (3). 

Since January 25, 572 suspected people known as F1 have been quarantined at hospitals or centralized sites and gotten tested. So far, 16 out of 572 test kits received positive outcomes. The rest of 443 others were negative once. In addition, 5,072 other people who had contact with F1 have been quarantined at places of residence. 

However, a large number of local residents have yet strictly complied with the five-measure message of wearing face masks, frequent disinfection, maintaining a safe distance, refraining from gathering, and making health declarations, he pointed.

He tasked the Steering Committee of COVID-19 Prevention and Control to instruct local authorities and healthcare staff to look beyond disease outbreak areas, providing tests for a wider range of Covid suspected cases, including F1, F2, and returnees from infected areas, people with high risks of infections at quarantine camps, health workers, and policemen. 

The local medical sector was asked to work with the Ministry of Health to conduct COVID-19 tests for staff at Noi Bai International Airport, students at FPT University, Z153 Factory (Me Linh district), Times City. 

Secretary Hue requested that all F1 cases will be tested before February 4. 

Earlier, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long assessed the new wave of Covid-19 in Viet Nam is fast-spreading partly due to UK variant while the source of the transmissions has not been identified yet. The strain is more contagious and has a shorter incubation period, and as a result, in less than a week 276 cases have been recorded. The new virus mutant can be transmitted through the air and therefore we need to follow regulations on masking up. Those who violate the regulations must be severely punished.

Ha Noi authorities decided to shut down all bars, karaoke parlors, discotheques, game and internet service outlets and local residents have been told to avoid non-essential gatherings from February 1.

The city also decided to allow more than two million students from kindergartens to high school to stay at home, starting from February 1, and attend classes on line.

The local authorities required all festivals and events for Tet holiday, Viet Nam's biggest and longest holiday, to be canceled./.

By Kim Loan