Hanoi enforces face mask wearing regulation in public places: Mayor

Hanoi’s authorities have again requested people to comply with the mask-donning regulation in public places and strengthen hygiene measures, Kinh Te & Do Thi cited Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Chu Ngoc Anh’s express document on October 28.

As per the document, the Hanoi mayor once again stressed on precautionary measures namely quick testing, contact tracing, masking up in public places, and washing hands.

In addition, protocols for receiving visitors from abroad, including quarantine, must be strictly adhered to. Accordingly, Vietnamese returnees, depending on their categories, will be quarantined in concentrated centers or in other types of facilities.

Hanoi's residents wear face masks when walking near Hoan Kiem lake. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

Meanwhile, the city’s government asked for simplified procedures for incoming foreign diplomats, experts, investors, high-skilled workers, and foreign students in the city. Relatives of diplomats, experts, and investors are also entitled to priority immigration procedures as required by the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

The city mayor said the measures are aimed at keeping the people vigilant on the pandemic that remains unpredictable as Vietnam and Hanoi in particular are at high risk of imported transmission.

The local authorities have been warned that they need to be on high alert in order to prevent another wave of coronavirus outbreak.

Accordingly, 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.

The health sector needs to ensure enough resources for dealing with any outbreak, Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh said in the document.

He added that the city’s agencies should keep disseminating the "5K" message of the Ministry of Health since 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).

Moreover, the authorities must strictly handle cases defying face mask regulations, prepare medical supplies for Covid-19 prevention and strictly control concentrated isolation establishments, Mr. Ngoc Anh noted.

At an online meeting presided over by Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Ngo Van Quy on October 28, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Hoang Duc Hanh said that Vietnam has fundamentally put the Covid-19 hot spots under control and 56 days have passed with no new Covid-19 cases detected in the community.

Meanwhile, Hanoi has gone 71 days without detecting any new cases of Covid-19 in the community. However, according to experts, the risk of a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic is latent, so staying vigilant is a must, as cold and dry winter conditions favor the transmission of the virus, Mr. Hanh added.

He stressed that people are still recommended to regularly wash hands with soap or hand sanitizers, clean surfaces and frequently touched objects (door knobs, mobile phones, tablets, tables, and chairs). People are also asked to keep safe distance with each other and avoid mass gatherings.