DIRECTIVE

ON ENHANCEMENT OF COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL

To prevent and control COVID-19, regulatory bodies and local governments at all levels have been implementing comprehensive, timely and proactive solutions to this disease in a consistent and vigorous manner, which has yielded important initial results and received praises from the international community as well as the people. Only 16 cases have been recorded throughout the country and all 16 have fully recovered. No new case has been detected in the past 12 days. Medical monitoring and quarantine of persons traveling from infected zones are strictly carried out. Two out of three infected provinces (Thanh Hoa and Khanh Hoa) are eligible to declare end to COVID-19. However, the COVID-19 epidemic is progressing unpredictably in many other countries around the world, especially in South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, etc for the past few days.

To further prevent and control COVID-19, the Prime Minister hereby issues the following directives:

1. Regulatory bodies and People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall continue to perform their tasks in the spirit of “chống dịch như chống giặc”, heighten precautions and strictly adopt COVID-19 preventive measures according to Directive 05/CT-TTg dated January 28, 2020 and Directive 06/CT-TTg dated January 31, 2020 from the Prime Minister; tighten control over persons traveling through border crossings in provinces near the borders; and apply preventive measures in cross-border cargo transport, air travel and tourism as directed by the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall discuss with China on permitting Vietnamese citizens from infected provinces and cities in China to enter Vietnam only via international border checkpoints.

2. For passengers traveling from infected zones in South Korea and in other countries and territories:

a) Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall:

- Notify South Korea and other infected countries and territories of Vietnam’s COVID-19 preventive measures, including suspension of entry into Vietnam for persons traveling from or through infected zones and mandatory health declaration and 14-day quarantine for persons entering Vietnam on official business in special cases according to regulations.

- Advise Vietnamese citizens against non-essential travel to the infected zones of other countries, and inform them that they would be placed under centralized quarantine for 14 days when they return to Vietnam after their trip to these zones according to regulations.

- Encourage Vietnamese citizens living and working in South Korea (especially in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk) to comply with guidelines for COVID-19 preventive measures from South Korea and to not visit the infected zones or at-risk zones as warned by South Korean regulatory bodies.

b) The Ministry of Health shall quarantine suspected cases and other cases requested by health authorities at healthcare establishments.

c) The Ministry of National Defense shall prepare the facilities, equipment and accommodations for quarantine of persons entering Vietnam, excluding those regulated by Point b herein; and direct implementation of measures to reduce the density of quarantined persons in provinces near the borders to prevent cross-infection in quarantine sites.

d) The Ministry of Public Security shall inform the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Health and People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities of passengers traveling from infected zones to Vietnam to carry out medical quarantine as prescribed by Points b and c herein.

dd) The Ministry of Transport shall redirect all flights from infected zones in South Korea to Van Don airport (Quang Ninh), Phu Cat airport (Binh Dinh) and Can Tho airport (Can Tho).

e) The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism shall advise people against non-essential travel to infected zones; and inform them that they would be placed under centralized quarantine for 14 days when they return to Vietnam after their trip to these zones according to regulations.

3. The Ministry of Health shall continue to enforce compulsory health declaration for persons coming from infected countries and territories.

4. People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall monitor and promptly quarantine persons returning from infected zones within the past 14 days if they show any symptom of COVID-19; obtain health declarations from citizens returning from other parts of South Korea and monitor their health.

The Ministry of Public Security shall inform People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities of passengers who travel from South Korea to Vietnam from February 11, 2020 for local governments to perform medical monitoring and impose quarantine if necessary./.

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