A person who came into contact with 13 imported cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant was the first recorded case of Omicron in the community in the capital Hanoi, according to information announced at the municipal steering committee for the meeting of COVID-19 Prevention and Control on January 26.
Speaking at the meeting, Hanoi Department of Health deputy director Vu Cao Cuong said there was a risk of Omicron transmission from the Hanoi community. The capital has now seen 118,111 cases and is still at alert level 2 (medium risk).
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“In the coming weeks, we could see a slight drop in daily cases,” Cuong said.
“The decline will be driven by people traveling back home for Tet, and the daily number of cases will return to 3,000 cases per day after the holidays if people do not adhere to prevention methods,” he added.
To contain the rise of the pandemic, Hanoi will raise awareness among citizens and reduce large gatherings.
Hanoi Opera House. Credit: Olivier Ochanine
Vietnam registered its first cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the community, state media reported on Jan. 19, as health authorities urged people to increase their vigilance over the threat of the variant.
“The community must remain vigilant against Omicron, not gather in crowded places and be fully vaccinated,” the health ministry said in a statement last week.
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In total, Vietnam has recorded more than two million COVID-19 infections and nearly 36,000 deaths.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 74% of the country’s 98 million inhabitants have received at least two vaccinations.
Vietnam has also launched a booster vaccination, with authorities pledging that all adults should receive the additional vaccine by the end of March.
