The detection of imported coronavirus carriers has rung the alarming bell for Hanoi's health authorities as the city confirmed an incoming passenger positive for coronavirus last week.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health Hoang Duc Hanh made the statement at the Hanoi Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control's online meeting on September 30.

An overview of the online meeting. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

According to experts, in the time ahead, Vietnam is expected to report more Covid-19 cases from pandemic-hit territories, especially when the country resumes international commercial air services, Mr. Hanh said.

He added that even though all incoming passengers positive for coronavirus are put under quarantine immediately upon arriving Vietnam, local residents should be on high alert to avoid imported Covid-19 cases.

Regarding the control of inbound passengers, Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuong, deputy director of the Northern Airport Authority under the Ministry of Transport, said that they will be channeled at all airports.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Ngo Minh Hoang noted that Hanoi currently has 36 hotels which have applied to be paid isolation centers. Among them, 15 have been approved by the city government.

The Department of Tourism will keep coordinating with the Department of Health to check which hotels are eligible for concentrated isolation, Hoang said.

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Ngo Van Quy noted that Hanoi had not recorded any local Covid-19 infection for 44 days, but there remain sources of coronavirus infection which is the risk of re-infection from convalescents and people entering the city without permission.

Besides, Mr. Quy criticized leaders of six districts, including Ha Dong, Gia Lam, Phu Xuyen, Phuc Tho, Ung Hoa and Dong Anh for not paying attention to the pandemic prevention. Particularly, no learder of the six districts attended the online meeting that the Steering Committee holds once a week for important Covid-19 information.

Mr. Quy stressed that the municipal government has requested all localities and people to be on high alert on Covid-19 prevention by complying with all the anti-pandemic protocols, such as wearing face masks in public places, limiting crowds and events, among others.