Hanoi has asked its agencies to strengthen Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control during the Lunar New Year and the festival season of 2023.

Accordingly, the local authority requested the municipal Department of Health to closely monitor the pandemic at Noi Bai International Airport, especially passengers from areas affected by Covid-19. 

A health worker prepares a Covid-19 vaccine shot in Hanoi. Photo: Hoang Quan/The Hanoi Times

The department is asked to give timely guidelines and coordinate with localities in the fight against the pandemic while working with grassroots authorities to quickly eradicate outbreaks, and promote coronavirus vaccination activities.

In particular, the department should reinforce communication to raise public awareness and advise the population to continue to actively take personal precautions by administering all necessary vaccine doses.

Besides, the department should prepare health facilities and medical teams well in case of a complicated evolution of the pandemic.

In addition, the Municipal Department of Culture and Sports, and the Department of Tourism are tasked with guiding relics, scenic spots, and tourist companies in implementing measures to ensure the safety of tourists and residents.

The move is helpful for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday which will see heavy traffic and many activities with large crowds, which may pose a great risk of disease outbreaks. 

So far, Covid-19 is no longer a threat to the health sector in Vietnam and Hanoi in particular. The country, which opened its borders in March 2022, sees a boom in tourism, enabling tourist attractions like Hanoi to welcome millions of visitors.