Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung at a meeting on March 16 requested subordinate bodies to carry out bolder measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, local media reported.

The mayor call on people to wear facial masks in public places and report to the authorities returnees from epidemic-hit areas evading quarantine.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung speaks at the meeting

He added that localities must strictly control the number of people who have made contact with Covid-19 patients or people suspected of being infected to take appropriate isolation measures and closely monitor quarantined cases, especially those in self-isolation.

People suspected of catching the virus who evade quarantine will be punished by law, even prosecuted with criminal charges, the Hanoi mayor stressed, adding that all religious and entertainment activities will be postponed until the end of March.

Relevant units are asked to build large-scale isolation plans, ensure the supply of medicine, equipment, materials and health workers.

Hanoi now has 14 active coronavirus-infected cases, the largest number in Vietnam. Nearly 2,000 people are in concentrated quarantine in the city.

The Hanoi mayor believes that with the drastic measures, the epidemic progress in the city will be stopped by the end of April.

Hanoi’s Covid-19 test takes only four hours

At the meeting, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said that the city has used a new-generation Covid-19 test kit which can provide results after 4-6 hours and test 2,500 people per day.

People suspected of contracting the coronavirus will be tested for free twice as all fees will be covered by the municipal budget, Chung emphasized.

He added that the city will conduct early screening at Noi Bai airport and use quick Covid-19 test kit for people coming from epidemic-hit areas.

The early detection of negative cases allows the city to timely lock down areas having coronavirus patients and take appropriate surveillance and isolation measures.

However, Chung also noted that people who have tested negative still need to self-isolate for 14 days, and minimize contact with others. If showing signs of cough, fever, shortness of breath, they should contact health facilities for retesting, he said.