A special quarantine area for COVID-19 patients (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi has ordered strict observation for anyonereturning from the Republic of Korea’s coronavirus-hit Daegu city and Gyeongsangbukprovince in the latest attempt to contain the acute respiratory disease causedby the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The order came as the number of coronavirus infection cases had skyrocketed inthe two Korean localities, home to 26,000 Vietnamese citizens.
At a meeting on February 23, Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung asked competent departments, sectors andagencies to arrange Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English interpreters for areasinhabited by a large number of foreigners to facilitate communication work.
Wards, districts, local police, and management boards of apartment buildingswere urged to keep close watch on the number of foreigners living and workingin the areas. Meanwhile, hotels in the city were asked to keep track on theircustomers’ travel schedules.
Restriction of entertainment zones like karaoke and barsshould be put into effect to prevent the virus spread, he said, addingreturnees from the virus-hit areas must inform local authorities so that theywill have timely response measures.
According to Vice Director of the municipal Department of Health Hoang DucHanh, quarantine has been served as the most effective and important measureamidst the complicated development of the epidemic.
The department has ordered Koreans traveling to Hanoi to self-quarantine attheir residential areas, while quarantine sites have already been set up forVietnamese returnees from the East Asian country, he added.
Local citizens are advised to avoid travel to areas affected by the novel virusand places vulnerable to the disease. Besides, foreign tourists atentertainment zones and tourism hotspots must undergo body-temperature check,he stressed.
The health department’s report showed that as of 15:00 on February 23, Hanoireported no COVID-19 case and 77 suspected people tested negative for thevirus. Medical quarantine was applied for 64 cases while 384 others were underhome-quarantine./.
VNA
