From 0:00 on July 22, 2021: Hanoi will implement centralized quarantine for all people returning from localities with outbreaks that are currently implementing social distancing measures.

Specifically, from 0:00 on July 22, 2021, centralized quarantine will be organized at designated quarantine locations within the city for all individuals returning from localities with outbreaks that are implementing social distancing measures as per Government Decree No. 969/TTg-KGVX dated July 17, 2021; excluding personnel serving in epidemic prevention and control; and those performing official duties that meet the requirements and regulations for epidemic prevention and control as permitted by competent authorities.

The Chairman of the City People's Committee instructed the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, counties, and towns to direct and develop plans to ensure 24/7 on-call duty, especially at the headquarters of government agencies at all levels and local medical facilities, to promptly handle all situations in the shortest possible time; proactively develop scenarios and organize drills on the scale of wards, communes, towns, and urban areas in accordance with the spirit of Directive No. 16/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister.

Local authorities also directed functional forces at the grassroots level, community Covid teams, in coordination with the Fatherland Front and political and social organizations in the locality, to strengthen community surveillance and closely manage and monitor people returning from other provinces and cities.

For individuals returning from Ho Chi Minh City and other epidemic areas, local authorities will broadcast announcements on local radio stations, clearly stating their information, list, and date of return to the locality. This will enable the public and authorities to closely monitor their movements and minimize the risk of infection. Simultaneously, they will disseminate information, remind people of regulations, and strictly handle any violations.

The Director of the Department of Health is tasked with directing the Hanoi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the city's medical facilities, and the health centers of districts, counties, and towns to implement a 24/7 on-call system; and to strengthen the work of collecting samples and testing all cases with suspected symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc., in the area.

The Department of Health directs healthcare facilities in the area to develop plans and requests healthcare facilities under the management of the Ministry of Health to strengthen and expand the Intensive Care Unit to be ready to receive and treat critically ill patients; to train and establish many teams and groups with sufficient capacity in advanced intensive care such as invasive mechanical ventilation, ECMO, and hemodialysis to be ready to train and support other hospitals in the area.

Healthcare facilities in the area are proactively preparing plans, resources, medical equipment, treatment drug lists, consumables, protective equipment, and infection control measures in accordance with Decision No. 2626/QD-BYT dated May 28, 2021, of the Ministry of Health for intensive care units treating severely ill COVID-19 patients, paying particular attention to compressed air systems, central oxygen systems, ventilators, etc., to expand patient admission capacity and respond promptly when the epidemic spreads and breaks out.

Hospitals are urgently reviewing their SARS-CoV-2 screening testing capacity, improving facilities, equipment, personnel, and biosafety level II conditions to promptly support SARS-CoV-2 virus testing in accordance with the guidelines in Decision No. 2245/QD-BYT dated April 22, 2020, of the Ministry of Health.
Strengthen inspections of plans for organizing isolation facilities in districts, counties, and towns; advise and report to the City People's Committee on directing the implementation of plans to accommodate the isolation of 30,000 and 50,000 people, prioritizing organization in suburban areas.

The People's Committee of the city requests the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the city and political and social organizations to coordinate with local functional forces to strengthen the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures in the city.

Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Chu Ngoc Anh requested that the people of Hanoi strictly implement disease prevention and control measures as directed by the Central Government and the city; only go out when necessary; and when detecting symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc., proactively contact local health facilities immediately for sample collection, testing, and screening as soon as possible.

The risk of disease spread is enormous; every citizen must be a soldier, every family a fortress, working together to fight the epidemic. The awareness and responsibility of each citizen at this time are extremely important, so that together with the community and the government at all levels, we can resolutely control and prevent the disease.

>>>>> View the full text of Official Dispatch No. 16/CD-UBNDhere.