VOV.VN - Hundreds of local people formed a long queue at the National Institute for Control of Vaccines and Biologicals in Hanoi on July 21 as they waited for COVID-19 tests.
A large number of local residents line up on Nghiem Xuan Yem street in Hoang Mai district from the early morning in order to undergo a COVID-19 test and get a certificate hours later, a document which is vital for them to travel from Hanoi to neighbouring localities.
Due to the area quickly becoming overcrowded, each person is forced to stand in close proximity with others, meaning that social distancing measures cannot be strictly observed.
People fill the pavement on Nghiem Xuan Yem street, waiting for their turn to do the test.
The majority of locals wait patiently in hot weather.
A driver notes that localities require a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test that is valid for three days. Despite being crowded, he must still wait to take samples.
A woman named T shares that she needs to return to Hai Duong province for private business, and the provincial administration’s request for a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours has forced her to go and do the test.
One woman appears to be too tired to wait for her COVID-19 test.
Groups of people sit in close proximity, meaning that no safe distance can be maintained.
According to the National Institute for Control of Vaccines and Biologicals, a person must spend VND320,000 for a PCR test or VND200,000 for a quick test.
Due to large gatherings, the institute’s staff work hard to maintain order.
The institute stops receiving applications at 9:30 a.m, but resumes operation between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
On-duty officials have been deployed to the scene to request people to fully abide by the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 guidelines.
