Director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Liem told The Hanoi Times that technology solutions have been applied comprehensively in the city to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Liem. Photo: The Hanoi Department of Information and Communications

Could you explain more on how Hanoi would resolutely handle violations to the regulations on pandemic prevention and control, especially businesses that are operating without QR codes?

The loosening of the social distancing rules must be accompanied by management measures, in which the application of technology is the most important.

In foreign countries, a citizen when going to a restaurant, supermarket, or office must scan the QR code with their smartphone at the point of the transaction so that if any infection is detected, it is possible to trace all the people who have been at the premise (F1) at the shortest time possible. This is a prerequisite for a restaurant or supermarket to reopen. They must have a QR code and clients must scan the code with their smartphone.

The Hanoi Department of Information and Communications has sent documents to departments, agencies, local people's committees, and the Hanoi Youth Union on the obligations of e-medical declaration and Covid-19 check-in through QR code (https://covid19.tech.gov.vn/).

The QR code scanning obligation is aimed at strengthening pandemic prevention and control, ensuring quick tracing, accurate zoning, and timely deterring pandemic transmission in the new normal.

In particular, during the recent online briefing between the city's Covid-19 Prevention and Control Department and other departments, branches, districts, towns, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Chu Xuan Dung emphasized the resolute handling violations with businesses without QR codes, violating regulations on pandemic prevention and control.

This drastic action is to help the city preserve its anti-disease achievements up to the present and prevent large-scale outbreaks that have greatly affected the socio-economic development of the capital and the country as well as of the city.  

However, for the QR code rule to be effectively enforced, not only cooperation among agencies, organizations, and service businesses are necessary but also the people's awareness. 

Therefore, we have urged the people, besides medical declarations (https://qr.tokhaiyte.vn/), to scan QR codes when going to public places or restaurants and supermarkets, which will better the work of tracing and preventing the Covid-19 pandemic.

For small businesses and eateries, how does the department provide instructions on QR code rule enforcement?

The Youth Union at all levels was requested to guide organizations and individuals to create and publish QR codes at the point.

At places where business individuals cannot create QR codes themselves, youth union members will help them to get the code.  

What is the role of districts in enforcing the QR code rule?

In the city's documents and in the recent meetings, the city’s leaders have required people to scan a QR code to register their visits and make health declaration. 

The districts must take drastic action to synchronize solutions, including guiding local people to install Bluezone (https://bluezone.gov.vn/), NCOVI, VHD, VNeID (https://suckhoe.dancuquocgia.gov.vn/) applications when going to offices and public places as well as the deployment of QR code at all agencies, organizations, business and service establishments. 

Thank you for your time!