Authorities in Hanoi are planning on mobilizing state budget to purchase COVID-19 vaccine for all citizens as the pandemic situation in the capital has become increasingly serious.

Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue chaired a meeting with relevant agencies on Tuesday to discuss COVID-19 prevention and control efforts.

Given the urgent situation, Hue ordered competent authorities to prioritize pandemic prevention and control tasks to ensure safety for all residents.

All direct and indirect contacts of existing patients must be tracked in a rapid manner, while the patients’ places of residence must be locked down to prevent the disease from spreading.

More quarantine centers will be set up, while authorities should also consider preparing makeshift hospitals for COVID-19 treatment.

COVID-19 tests must be conducted on people who had contact with infected patients, as well as those who visited virus-hit localities such as the northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Duong.

The Hanoi Party chief requested the municipal administration to coordinate with the Northern Airports Authority in testing over 3,200 employees at Noi Bai International Airport.

Hue said he would discuss with the Hanoi Party Committee regarding the purchase of a COVID-19 vaccine for all citizens using state budget and other legal sources.

The official tasked the city’s Department of Health with reviewing its current resources and making a detailed plan for the mass vaccination.

Vietnam has documented 1,891 coronavirus cases, including 1,003 domestic infections, as of Wednesday morning, with 1,461 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country confirmed the first two local cases on January 28, having gone nearly two months without any community-based infection.

A total of 310 domestic infections have been logged in 10 provinces and cities, since then.

Among them, 21 local infections were recorded in Hanoi.

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