Authorities in Hanoi on March 19 halted rumours on March 19 surrounding the possibility of the capital being put under lockdown in an attempt to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

There is simply no truth to rumours that a lockdown will be imposed on Hanoi to try and stop the COVID-19 epidemic, Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung told Vietnam Television, adding that everything remains under control.

Measuring body temperature of foreigners at a shopping centre in Hanoi 

The Mayor went on to explain that the number of confirmed cases of the virus has risen slightly in the capital over the past few days. This comes after Hanoi welcomed a large number of Vietnamese nationals who were returning from abroad, in addition to foreign tourists. As a preventative measure, the capital has taken a number of drastic steps, with local citizens being kept well informed with updated information concerning epidemic developments.

Hanoi will put forward its best efforts in a bid to slow the spread of the virus in order to ensure people’s lives and health, Mayor Chung added.  

Moreover, the Mayor said that the Steering Committees on COVID-19 Prevention and Control of Vietnam and Hanoi currently have no intentions of imposing a lockdown on Hanoi. 

To date, there have been a total of 85 COVID-19 cases recorded in the country, of which 17 cases have made a full recovery. The remaining patients have been put into quarantine in hospital to undergo monitoring and treatment.  

At present, Hanoi tops the list of virus-hit localities with 24 confirmed cases, followed by Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Thuan, and Quang Ninh.