Foreign tourists visit Ngọc Sơn Temple in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Hà

HÀ NỘI — The Disease Control Centre in Hà Nội has instructed healthcare centres to intensify supervision in to detect any cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to statistics from the city’s Health Department, there were 74 suspected cases of COVID-19 as of February 18, but all patients had now tested negative.  
In addition, 409 people were under quarantine in the city, with 55 staying at the Hà Nội Police Hospital.
Deputy director of the municipal Health Department, Hoàng Đức Hạnh, hailed the quarantine efforts. He said the city had prepared sufficient equipment and personnel to conduct quick tests for COVID-19.
The official highlighted the high risk of epidemic in the city, which is a major international transport hub with connections with many countries, including China, and those with confirmed COVID-19 cases. The city also borders Vĩnh Phúc Province, which has reported the majority of COVID-19 cases in the country (11 out of 16 confirmed cases so far).
The city needed to keep up epidemic preventive measures, Hạnh said.
So far, Việt Nam has confirmed 16 cases of COVID-19 but has not recorded any new patients since February 13. Among them, 11 have been discharged from hospital.
The Hà Nội Tourism Department has reported an increase in the number of tourists visiting local destinations compared to the beginning of February. It said the flow of visitors to tourist sites was 50–70 per cent of what the city would usually expect. — VNS