Hanoi issues urgent dispatch about SARS-CoV-2 tests among the community

COVID-19 quick test booths are being deployed across Hanoi

The dispatch ordered directors of Hanoi Department of Health, Hanoi Centre of Disease Control, and chairmen of relevant town and district-level people’s committees are obliged to preside over activities on taking test samples for both quick test and RT-PCR test formats at mobile testing booths located in districts and towns across Hanoi.

Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, also directed leaders at city-based health agencies and town and district-level people’s committees to immediately carry out the instructions of the dispatch.

Starting from today (April 3) the city’s Hadong and Long Bien districts commence conducting SARS-CoV-2 quick tests. In Hadong district, the test booths are positioned on Ha Dong Sports Arena, a very convenient location to carry out the service.

At first, these test booths will prioritise taking samples from cases relevant to Bach Mai Hospital, one of the venues with more COVID-19 infections and suspicions in Hanoi. The names of relevant people with instructions to go into self-isolation under decisions by relevant management bodies have been listed for check at testing booths. The quick test policy will later be applied to other people.

Meanwhile, in Long Bien district, more than 700 people suspected of COVID-19 infection will be given priority in testing. The test booths are positioned at Bo De Primary School in Bo De ward.

“Those who do not have to stay in self-isolation can go to Bo De Primary School to be tested for COVID-19. Those staying in self-isolation, there are two methods of taking test samples: using cars to transport people to the site where the booths are located, or on special occasions taking test samples right at the place of self-isolation,” the dispatch said.

In Cau Giay district, from yesterday (April 2) one quick test booth was erected at Yen Hoa Ward Culture House, first giving priority for people suspected of COVID-19 infection.

Regarding the three quick tests coming back positive on April 1, deputy director of Hanoi Center for Disease Control noted that after being checked by Realtime RT-PCR, these tests turned negative, meaning these people were not in fact infected with COVID-19.

Earlier, three quick tests on March 31 showed positive for SARS-CoV-2, and were also negativeafter being retested by Realtime RT-PCR technique.

Thus, until today all positive cases detected through quick tests in Hanoi on March 31 and Apri 1 have proven negative after being checked with Realtime RT-PCR.

By the morning of April 3, the number of COVID-19 infections has surpassed one million to reach 1,013,709 people globally, with 52,975 deaths.

Vietnam reported 233 cases of COVID-19 infections, 75 of whom have recovered, including 16 infections in between January 23 and February 13, 2020 who made fully recovery.