Hanoi would give priority to easing current business restrictions and consider the timing for students to return to schools.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue at the meeting.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue made the statement at a meeting to discuss  the Covid-19 situation in the city on February 22, adding such moves should be part of Hanoi’s Covid-19 fight strategies.

“It is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic is set to stay for long-term,” stressed Hue, urging all localities to strictly comply with anti-virus measures.

Nonetheless, Hue said the city has effectively contained the pandemic situation, which helps avoid disruption of economic activities and daily life of the public.

The Hanoi Party chief, however, requested local authorities to assess risks related to the death of a Japanese Covid-19 patient (Patient No.2229), whose transmission source remains unknown.

Hue instructed related agencies to continue promoting sales of agricultural products from Covid-19-stricken areas in super markets in Hanoi.

“This is essential to not only boost domestic consumption of agricultural products, but also to aid Hanoi’s economic growth,” he said.

This year, Hanoi targets an economic growth rate from 7.5-8% from the 3.94% growth rate recorded last year, as the city stands firm in pursuing the dual target of both containing the pandemic and boosting economic recovery.

As of February 22, Hanoi has identified 51,595 people returning from Hai Duong, the country’s current pandemic hotspot, 40,672 people of a total of 49,637 having been tested for Covid-19 are confirmed negative.