Hanoi's sole maximum Covid-risk ward to see cases drop

The ward in Nam Tu Liem District, home to around 14,000 people, has been recording fewer than 30 cases a day on average over the last four days, according to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC). Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the Nam Tu Liem medical department, said he expects the number of daily new cases in Phu Do would only be around 30.

"The Covid-19 situation in Phu Do is at its peak and the number of new cases would eventually plateau and drop. In another 7-10 days, it would drop to zero," Tuan anticipated.

However, as commercial activities resume across the capital, there will be more cases and close contacts, meaning quarantine zones would soon be overwhelmed. Tuan suggests the city could allow close contacts of coronavirus cases to be quarantined at home as part of a trial, and quickly vaccinate children aged 12-17 against Covid-19.

Phu Do is the only ward in Hanoi placed at very high coronavirus risk, or level 4. The risk level is determined based on several factors including vaccination rate and the number of new infections per population over a period of time.

High infection risks in Phu Do could be attributed to the close proximity of houses, multiple narrow alleys and high population density.

Local authorities have suspended several activities and services in the ward to stop the coronavirus from spreading. Vigorous isolation and testing measures were also employed, with around 288 families, or 1,350 people, being put under lockdown and tested every three days.

Around 56 people, including the police and militia members, were deployed to patrol quarantine zones. Local authorities have also provided the people with food and other necessities during lockdown, said Tuan.

Outbreaks in Phu Do Ward have been detected since Nov. 4, and so far around 155 cases have been confirmed. About 57 are children aged under 18, one is an unvaccinated elderly person, and the rest, all fully vaccinated.

There are four quarantine zones across the ward: two hotels and two schools. A mobile medical station has also been set up as a precaution to treat Covid-19 cases at home if the city allows.

Hanoi has recorded over 6,000 Covid-19 cases since late April. Experts have suggested the capital soon allow close contacts of coronavirus cases to be allowed isolation at home to relieve the burden on the medical system.