DIRECTIVE

ON SOME URGENT COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES

In 2020, the whole country joined hands to keep COVID-19 under control, which was highly praised by the international community. As 2021 begins, the pandemic continues to develop unpredictably around the world, and new more infectious virus variants have been found in over 70 countries. As for Vietnam, on January 27 and 28, 2021, multiple community transmission cases caused by the new variant(s) were reported (72 cases in POYUN factory and Cong Hoa industrial park in Chi Linh city, Hai Duong province, and 11 cases related to a security staff member of Van Don airport, Quang Ninh province), becoming the largest community transmission up to date and posing high risk of widespread infection.

In order to contain the disease and prevent community transmission in an effective and thorough manner, the Prime Minister assigned the following tasks:

1. For Hai Duong province:

a) All of Chi Linh city in Hai Duong province shall be under lockdown and subject to the measures provided for in the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020, in which:

- Practice social distancing throughout the whole city for 21 days starting from 12 AM of January 28, 2021 between families, neighborhoods/villages, communes, wards, etc. All inhabitants of the city shall only go outside when strictly necessary (for food, medicine and emergency aid), going to work at facilities that are allowed to maintain operation to provides essential goods or services, and in other urgent circumstances. Do not form groups of more than 2 people outside office buildings, schools, hospitals and in public places; maintain a safety distance of at least 2 m during communication.

- Suspend all schools, public activities, recreational facilities, mass gatherings and non-essential service provision.

- Suspend outbound public transit, excluding travel for official business or when strictly necessary. Minimize use of private vehicles. Ensure uninterrupted transport of goods and raw materials for manufacturing.

- Heads of manufacturing and business establishments shall take responsibility for implementation of measures against COVID-19.

b) Chairperson of the People’s Committee of Hai Duong province shall decide to enforce lockdown, suspend facilities not meeting COVID-19 prevention requirements; direct rapid tracing, hotspot identification and elimination, large-scale testing and centralized quarantine of close contacts of confirmed cases for 21 days; based on the risk level of each area in the province, decide to enforce lockdown and social distancing in accordance with Directive No. 15/CT-TTg dated March 27, 2020 and Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020.

2. For Quang Ninh province:

a) Suspend operation of Van Don international airport starting from 12 AM of January 28, 2021;

b) Chairperson of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province shall decide to enforce lockdown, suspend facilities not meeting COVID-19 prevention requirements; direct rapid tracing, hotspot identification and elimination, large-scale testing and centralized quarantine of close contacts of confirmed cases for 21 days; based on the risk level of each area in the province, decide to enforce lockdown and social distancing in accordance with Directive No. 15/CT-TTg dated March 27, 2020 and Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020.

3. Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall direct the following tasks:

a) Review and reinforce measures against COVID-19 in their provinces and cities, especially in healthcare facilities, schools, industrial parks, factories and places where mass gatherings are frequently hosted.

b) Decide to impose lockdown and social distancing based on the risk level of each area in their provinces and cities.

c) Request people to wear facemasks, avoid gathering and keep safe distance in public places properly.

d) Enhance inspection of adoption of COVID-19 prevention and control measures and strictly handle violations.

4. The Ministry of Health shall gather resources and assist Quang Ninh and Hai Duong provinces with controlling the disease in a timely manner; proactively prepare plans and scenarios for effective handling of outbreaks.

5. The Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Health and People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall enhance measures for strict control of entry to Vietnam, and prevent and handle illegal entry and entry organization strictly.

6. The Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Health, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, press agencies and provincial People's Committees shall continue to inform about the COVID-19 situation and prevention and control measures for the people to keep vigilant and avoid confusion over the disease./.

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