Hanoians flock to Covid testing site

By Tung Dinh   July 22, 2021 | 03:00 am PT
Wearing raincoats and protective clothing, a myriad of people gathered at a capital Covid-19 testing site, neglecting social distancing measures amid the pandemic resurgence.
The entrance to the National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals in Hoang Mai District is packed with people awaiting their Covid-19 tests Wednesday afternoon. The institute stopped receiving samples in the morning, even though many still waited around until the afternoon.

The entrance to the National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals in Hoang Mai District is packed with people awaiting their Covid-19 tests Wednesday afternoon. The institute stopped receiving samples in the morning, even though many still waited around until the afternoon.

Hundreds of people wait for hours under the scorching sun, ignoring social distancing rules. Most are drivers and workers in industrial zones that require negative tests to recommence working.

Hundreds of people wait for hours under the scorching sun, ignoring social distancing rules. Most are drivers and workers in industrial zones that require negative tests to recommence working.

Worried about infection risks, a woman puts on protective clothing.

Worried about infection risks, a woman puts on protective clothing.

I have an appointment at K Hospital that requires me to have a negative test result, so I took my mom here to be tested. I knew it would be crowded at places like this, so I have prepared. But when I arrived here, I felt awful seeing the crowds ignoring social distancing measures, said Huong (L).

"I have an appointment at K Hospital that requires me to have a negative test result, so I took my mom here to be tested. I knew it would be crowded at places like this, so I have prepared. But when I arrived here, I felt awful seeing the crowds ignoring social distancing measures," said Huong (L).

Without proper protective clothing, a man resorts to wearing a raincoat and surgical gloves.

Without proper protective clothing, a man resorts to wearing a raincoat and surgical gloves.

I don’t know where to buy protective clothes and I didn’t have time, so I chose a raincoat. It cannot protect me completely, but somehow puts me at ease, the man said.

"I don’t know where to buy protective clothes and I didn’t have time, so I chose a raincoat. It cannot protect me completely, but somehow puts me at ease," the man said.

Local police tell people to follow social distancing rules.

Local police tell people to follow social distancing rules.

Many photocopy shops have increased their prices to VND20,000 ($0.87) a page since people are required to have copies of their ID cards before the Covid tests.

Many photocopy shops have increased their prices to VND20,000 ($0.87) a page since people are required to show copies of their ID cards before the Covid tests.

The institute stopped receiving samples at around 2:40 p.m., disappointing many.

The institute stopped receiving samples at around 2:40 p.m., disappointing many.

I took a day off to have this Covid test, but no one has collected my nose swab. I have to find another hospital and take another day off now, a man said.

"I took a day off to have this Covid test, but no one has collected my nose swab. I have to find a hospital and take another day off now," a man said.

I’ve been here from 9:30 a.m., and hired a man to stand in the line for me while I was having my ID card copied and filled in forms. But the institute closed earlier than usual, so we had to have lunch here and wait for them, hoping they would open in the afternoon, another man said, adding that without a negative test result, he could not enter the industrial zone to work. I will return to Bac Ninh and do the test.

"I’ve been here from 9:30 a.m., and hired a man to stand in the line for me while I was having my ID card copied and filled in forms. But the institute closed earlier than usual, so we had to have lunch here and wait for them, hoping they would open in the afternoon," another man said, adding that without a negative test result, he could not enter the industrial zone to work.
"I will return to Bac Ninh and do the test."

People wait at a pedestrian tunnel near the institute, hoping it would open in the afternoon.

People wait at a pedestrian tunnel near the institute, hoping it would open in the afternoon.

People gather in front of the institute for their coronavirus tests. Vietnam is currently facing its toughest coronavirus wave yet since late April, having recorded 67, 422 local cases. Hanoi has recorded 761 cases in the new wave.  The capital has requested people not to go out except for buying food, medication or other emergencies. Gatherings of more than five people are not allowed in public.

People gather in front of the institute for their coronavirus tests.
Vietnam is currently facing its toughest coronavirus wave yet since late April, having recorded 67,422 local cases. Hanoi has recorded 761 cases in the new wave. The capital has requested people not to go out except for buying food, medication or other emergencies. Gatherings of more than five people are not allowed in public.

 
 
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