Secretary of Hà Nội Party Committee Vương Đình Huệ speaks at a meeting with the city’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Quarantine remained the best way of preventing the spread of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19, according to Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee Vương Đình Huệ. 

Huệ was speaking at a meeting the city’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Monday.

“The most important thing is to make information transparent,” he said. 

The Party official also laid stress on environmental hygiene and the sterilisation of schools, offices and other public places.  

He said safety in schools must be ensured when they reopened, adding that municipal authorities should make a decision on whether to reopen schools based on the development of the epidemic from now to March 8. Schools in Hà Nội have been closed since February 3.

Huệ also instructed agencies to prepare plans for online or televised lessons in the worst case scenario when students had to stay at home.

The official asked the health sector to stay vigilant and ensure medical supplies for epidemic control, noting that the epidemic had entered a new period after spreading worldwide. 

At the same time, Hà Nội must continue to implement measures to maintain socio-economic growth, he said.  

According to director of the city’s Health Department, Nguyễn Khắc Hiền, as of March 1, Hà Nội had not reported any new case of COVID-19. At present, 2,240 people returning from epidemic-hit areas were being quarantined at four facilities, while 2,115 were self-isolated at home.  

Medical establishments in Hà Nội are now capable of providing 5,000 beds to treat COVID-19 patients. In case of the epidemic spreading, the city will set up two specialised hospitals, each with 600 beds. — VNS