Hanoi tests all arrivals from areas with coronavirus infections

Hanoi's Health Department said Thursday it would perform Covid-19 tests on people coming to Hanoi from areas having reported infections since the new wave hit Vietnam late last month.

People subject to the tests include those coming from Cam Giang District, Hai Duong's biggest hotspot, since January 15, and other places of Hai Duong since February 2.

Others are those coming from areas with infections in Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Binh Duong, Dien Bien, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Phong, Hoa Binh, HCMC, Hung Yen and Quang Ninh.

The move came as the pandemic situation in Hai Duong, 60 kilometers from Hanoi, turned more complicated with health authorities saying it is unpredictable and could last longer than expected.

The province, which has a population of more than two million, began a 15-day social distancing campaign on Tuesday. It has reported 557 cases so far, with all its 12 towns and districts having patients.

Earlier Hanoi authorities had only required those arriving from Hai Duong to make medical declarations and quarantine themselves at home, and sent only people arriving from the province’s Cam Giang District to quarantine and tested them for Covid.

Khong Minh Tuan, deputy director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control, said the outbreak in the capital is "basically under control."

He said the biggest risk for the city now is the influx of people from Hai Duong after Tet since a large number of workers from the province work in Hanoi.

Hanoi has recorded 36 cases so far.

HCMC and some northern localities have also mandated a 14-day quarantine or even barred entry for people coming from Hai Duong.

Vietnam has had 737 Covid-19 cases in 13 cities and provinces since the latest outbreak began on January 28.