Hanoi has released a plan to respond to new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the capital, including the latest variant of XBB.1.5, and disease prevention measures in 2023.

The plan aims to prevent new Covid-19 variants from entering Hanoi, detect the earliest occurrence of the XBB.1.5 variant in the city, prepare plans to assess the pandemic risk and minimize the impact of the disease on the health and socio-economic activities of the population.

Hanoi has been actively conducting a communication campaign on the efficacy of vaccines to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Accordingly, the local government has set tasks and measures for Covid-19 prevention in 2023, focusing on strengthening quarantine at Noi Bai International Airport; fostering surveillance and early detection of suspected cases of XBB.1.5 variant in residential areas, offices, factories, and enterprises.

The city will update relevant information and keep a close watch on the variant's evolution in the world; fully and promptly administering booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines in line with the health ministry's guidance.

The municipal Health Department is in charge of instructing relevant units to conduct pandemic prevention and control and supporting districts to synchronously and effectively implement Covid-19 prevention and control activities. It also coordinates with local authorities to administer booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines for high-risk groups in accordance with the health ministry's guidance.

So far, the Covid-19 situation in the world remained complicated but the situation in Vietnam has been brought under control. The number of coronavirus-infected patients has decreased dramatically from early March 2022 until now thanks to fast vaccination campaigns.