Hanoi will strictly handle those making fraudulent medical declarations, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue stressed at a meeting on February 8.

Mr. Hue stressed that new strain of coronavirus spreads quickly, while some Covid-19 patients have made medical dishonest declarations and have not cooperated fully with the authorities, making it difficult for detecting those exposed to the virus.

The Party chief also required a higher level of the anti-pandemic tasks and solutions by giving a top priority to quickly prevent the spread of infection or cross-infection in the capital city.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Chu Xuan Dung inspects Garden Hill apartment building in Nam Tu Liem district. Photo: Son Ha

At the yesterday meeting on Covid-19 prevention and control, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Chu Xuan Dung also requested punishment for all Covid-19 patients with untruthful medical reports.

Specifically, Patient No.2009, NTKA, 28 years old, residing in Gaden Hill apartment block in Nam Tu Liem district deliberately concealed information and spread coronavirus to others.

Mr. Dung asked functional units, including Hanoi police, to focus on tracing faster and apply stiff sanctions for infection cases who do not cooperate with functional forces.

“If the information is delicate, the authorities would keep it confidential, thus patients should not fear making reliable declaration,” said Mr. Dung.

A makeshift hospital was set up in the campus of Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital. Photo: Do Hang

The same day, military forces have set up a makeshift hospital in the campus of Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital.

The move is among a host of contingency plans that the hospital has prepared to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the time of writing, the national tally of the ongoing Covid-19 wave is 470, with infections recorded in eleven cities and provinces. The nation has registered 2,053 cases of novel coronavirus carriers, of them 1472 recovered and 35 deceased so far.

Vietnamese people will celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet) this week, the biggest and longest holiday of the year. While the government has imposed lockdowns at Covid-19 epicenters, many cities and provinces have canceled Tet fireworks shows and other celebrations.