The issue was discussed during a meeting about Covid-19 prevention works held by the vice-chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Van Quy on November 11.
Director of Hanoi Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien said, “The managers of traditional markets, apartment complexes and bus stations still neglect their duty to implement the mask-wearing regulation. The authorities in wards and communes haven’t updated the data and information in their reports.”
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According to the inspection team, visitors at Hoan Kiem pedestrian streets wore face masks only when they walked past the checkpoints.
Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Tran Thi Phuong Lan said people would flock to supermarkets and shopping centres in November. That’s why they had sent employees to take body temperatures and warn people to wear face masks at supermarkets and shopping centres, the local media DTINews reported.
“The managers of traditional markets also neglected this problem,” she said. “Local authorities must raise warnings.”
In Gia Lam District, only 10% of visitors wore face masks at traditional markets. Vice-chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee ordered the locality authorities to set up checkpoints at traditional markets.
Also read: Vietnam to conduct human trials of COVID-19 vaccine this month
Tran Dac Phu, head of Department of Preventive Medicines, said since most measures had been loosened, the transmission risk would be high if there is a community patient. He suggested testing seriously-ill patients at hospitals as a preventive measure.
“Vaccines are being made. However, the results and the prices are still unsure. In Vietnam, vaccines are being developed at four different facilities. Some facilities have tested their vaccines on monkeys while another is preparing a human trial,” Phu said. “Carrying out preventive measures and wearing face masks are still the most important now.”
