City officials during a meeting to discuss preparation work for the upcoming high school exams, in which over 93,000 students will sit for during this weekend. — VGP Photo

HÀ NỘI — More than 93,000 students in Hà Nội are set to take the high school entrance exams this weekend and measures are in place to ensure COVID-19 safety, according to officials.

Speaking at an online conference yesterday, chairman of the city's People Committee Chu Ngọc Anh said the virus situation is largely under control and city officials are confident in the safety of the students taking the exams.

The city has employed more than 17,000 education workers for the exams and all 30 districts and communes across the city are well-prepared. Social distancing protocols have been set up and drills have been conducted to ensure students are properly distanced during the exams. 

Vice-chairman of the city's People Committee Chử Xuân Dũng asked those in charge of all 184 exam sites to ensure there is ample supply of sanitiser, to provide guidance for students and to stay in touch with parents on exam days. 

Deputy director of the city's health department Hoàng Đức Hạnh said the newly discovered cluster in Đông Anh District is proving to be complicated as a number of positive cases are shop owners who may have been in contact with a large number of people.

The department has set up testing centres in the district to screen the local population for the virus. 

Industrial complexes in Đông Anh District and neighbouring Mê Linh have been told to stay vigilant and step up their efforts to enforce strict social distancing and sanitising factories and workshops. 

So far, more than 700 samples have been collected from people related to the cluster, while two exam sites in the district have already been moved. The district has also asked for all education workers who serve on-site to be tested for the virus prior to the exams.

City authorities have asked all students to finish their health declaration forms online before Friday.  VNS