The high vaccination rate has helped bring down the overall pandemic level in Hanoi, the most affected locality by Covid-19 in Vietnam, keeping the city at the second out of the four-level risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Vaccination in Hanoi. Photo: Khanh Huy/ The Hanoi Times

Up to 26 out of 30 districts in the city are labeled “yellow zones” (medium-risk areas), four districts are "orange zones" (high-risk) and no district is listed “green” or free from Covid-19, according to the city’s pandemic assessment updated on January 21.

According to the Government's temporary guidance on safe adaptation, flexibility, and effective control of the Covid-19 pandemic, four levels of pandemic risk are: Level 1 - Low-risk (green); Level 2 - Medium-risk (yellow); Level 3 - High-risk (orange) and Level 4 - Very high-risk (red).

The pandemic levels are built on the rate of infections per 100,000 residents and the vaccination rate. 

Over the past month, Hanoi has reported an average of 3,000 cases/day in the city of nine million people, the highest among cities and provinces nationwide.

In the latest report, 99.7% of adults aged above 18 in Hanoi have been given the first shot while 98% of those aged above 50 are double dosed.

Meanwhile, the majority of children aged 12-17 have been fully vaccinated. In addition, the city is offering booster shots.

So far, Hanoi has reported 65,185 Covid-19 infections, including 84% treated at home. Covid-19 has claimed 425 lives in the city.

To prevent the large-scale outbreak, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh asked authorities to stop all festivities and large gatherings in the upcoming Tet holiday (the Lunar New Year) which will fall in early February.

In the request released on January 21, the chairman highlighted the importance of vaccination, saying that the city targets to complete the booster shots in the first quarter of this year.