COVID-19 rapid testing station in Hanoi – Photo: HNM
In order to continue the zoning of suspected COVID-19 cases related to the outbreak at Bach Mai Hospital, the Head of the Steering Committee requested the Director of the Hanoi City Center for Disease Control to promptly contact all COVID-19 patients who discharged from Bach Mai Hospital, and employees of Truong Sinh Company working at Bach Mai Hospital to identify their travel schedule, their activities, the places where they had meals, and people they contacted from March 10, 2020 to the time of quarantine and treatment of them. After identifying and checking to ensure the accuracy of the information, it is necessary to promptly inform the entire travel schedule of the patients to the public so that everyone will, being aware of the possibility of infection, self-examine, check, and find out people who have been in contact with the patients, then contact the local Medical Centers for quarantine and testing as prescribed.
Also regarding the implementation of urgent measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanoi has established some rapid testing stations for COVID-19 pandemic in some districts to screen and early discover COVID-19 cases that pose a risk of infection in the community. To ensure that the testing at such testing facilities is in accordance with regulations, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control of Hanoi City issued Official Letter No. 1120/CV-BCD dated April 2, 2020 requiring the Department of Health, the Hanoi City Center for Disease Control to promptly study and develop a temporary testing process for COVID-19 rapid test in districts, and report and consult the Ministry of Health so as to quickly and effectively implement the testing process, ensuring the compliance with regulations on COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.
Regarding the current COVID-19 rapid testing work in Hanoi, at 5 p.m. on April 2, 2020, Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi City, issued an urgent message No. 04/CD – UBND to the Director of Department of Health, the Director of Hanoi City Center for Disease Control, and the Chairmen of People’s Committees of districts and towns, stating that: “To continue to take measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic, the Chairman of the City People’s Committee requested the above-mentioned agencies and units to take samples for rapid testing, in conjunction with taking samples for RT-PCR testing at mobile sampling stations in districts and towns.”