Hanoi plans more mobile COVID-19 testing stations to meet high demand

The plan was revealed during a meeting of the city’s steering committee for
prevention and control on April 1.

Over the last few days, the have become overwhelmed
because of long queue of people waiting to get quick tests.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said Hanoi is the
locality with the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 87. Those include 56
domestic transmission cases, of which 37 are workers of Truong Sinh Company
which provides catering and logistics services for Bach Mai Hospital, he said.

The local authorities have traced all people visiting Bach Mai Hospital and
those having contact with these people, the leader noted, adding that social
distancing is a timely measure to prevent the outbreak from spreading more
widely.

Chung went on to say as returnees from abroad and people related to Bach Mai
Hospital are those at the highest risk of getting infected with the virus, they
must be closely monitored and provided with testing services as soon as
possible to early detect infections.

The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control was told to transfer quick test kits to
all local hospitals on April 1 evening, and the city aims to have clinics at
grassroots level conduct such tests, he said. 

All hospitals in the city have been required to designate separate areas to
provide checkup for people with suspected COVID-19 symptoms.

Director of the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien said, as of
14:00 on April 1, Hanoi had 87 confirmed cases. 

The city has so far spent over 1.28 trillion VND (54.4 million USD) for the
COVID-19 relief efforts./.