NOTIFICATION

PRIME MINISTER’S CONCLUSION FROM MEETING OF STANDING MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT ON COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL

On March 16, 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting with standing members of the Government on COVID-19 prevention and control with the participation of Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Deputy Prime Ministers Pham Binh Minh, Vu Duc Dam and Trinh Dinh Dung, Minister, Chairman of the Office of the Government Mai Tien Dung, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Party Central Committee Nguyen Dac Vinh, representatives of leaders of Central Propaganda and Training Commission and Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children of the National Assembly, representatives of leaders of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Labor - War Invalids and Social Affairs, members of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and leader of People's Committee of Hanoi.

After listening to the reports from the National Steering Committee and Office of the Government as well as opinions from the Deputy Prime Ministers and other attendees, the Prime Minister gave the following directions:

1. All regulatory bodies and local governments have made great efforts and achieved good results regarding the fight against COVID-19. In the first phase of the fight, 16/16 cases have recovered and community transmission is successfully limited.

The pandemic is progressing unpredictably around the world with serious consequences. Vietnam still faces a great risk of infection but the window of opportunity for infection control has not passed. All regulatory bodies and local governments must keep up the fight against COVID-19, apply the 4 on-the-spot action system, mobilize the participation of the whole political system, prepare manpower and equipment adequately, be ready to respond in case of widespread infection and minimize the number of confirmed cases and deaths.

2. Ministries and People’s Committees shall focus on directing the following key solutions within their competence:

a) Suspend visas for all foreign nationals for 30 days starting from March 18, 2020 at 12:00 AM.

From March 18, 2020 at 12:00 AM, persons granted visa-free entry, holders of the certificate of visa exemption for Vietnamese and family members and some other special cases (such as specialists, business managers, highly skilled workers, etc.) must present a COVID-19 negative certificate issued by competent authorities of their country of residence and recognized by Vietnam upon their arrival in Vietnam. These measures are not applicable to persons entering Vietnam for official or diplomatic purposes.

All entrants to Vietnam must undergo inspection and comply with COVID-19 prevention and control measures as regulated.

b) Extend mandatory medical quarantine in quarantine zones to entrants from the United States, European countries and ASEAN countries; implement self-quarantine and health monitoring at home, in the workplace and in accommodations and supervise self-quarantined persons. Commune-level governments and local health units must seriously supervise these measures, ensure completion of the quarantine period and supervise the right persons. Discrimination against confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases is strictly prohibited.

c) Continue to minimize the number of flights from infected areas to Vietnam. Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Transport shall decide arrival airports for flights from infected areas to facilitate quarantine of entrants and fulfill COVID-19 prevention and control requirements.

Ministry of Health shall provide guidelines for on-board screening, health control in airports and testing of entrants.

d) Ministry of National Defense shall prepare more quarantine zones inside military zones. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and provincial People's Committees shall prepare more quarantine zones, which are under the management of Commanders of military zones, to accommodate large numbers of people placed under quarantine.

dd) Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall take charge and cooperate with relevant ministries in monitoring COVID-19 situation in ASEAN, in the region and around the world to propose suitable and timely response measures.

e) Central hospitals, hospitals of the military force and police force and local hospitals must each prepare their emergency plans, resources and response plans for COVID-19. The healthcare sector shall launch special emulation movements and mobilize all resources (including retired medical professionals) for the fight against COVID-19.

g) Continue to boost communications and education regarding COVID-19 prevention and control measures, self-care practices, voluntary health declaration and exemplary cases in the fight against COVID-19; further condemn and strictly handle fake news, dishonest health declaration and failure to quarantine according to regulations.

h) Continue to give recommendations on COVID-19 prevention in the home and advise persons with existing conditions and the elderly on health monitoring and voluntary health declaration. Enhance the roles and responsibilities of commune-level governments for closely supervising and supporting families of suspected cases and quarantined persons.

i) Conduct large-scale testing, especially testing among vulnerable groups.

k) Ministries and local governments, especially those of large cities, shall direct strict restriction of mass gatherings.

2. Ministry of Health may procure medical equipment for COVID-19 prevention and control via market-based direct contracting. Establish working groups under the management of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and other relevant ministries to determine market price and ensure transparency for timely procurement of such equipment.

Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security shall directly procure medical equipment for COVID-19 prevention and control for their hospitals and ensure adequate quantity thereof.

Ministry of Industry and Trade shall direct facemask production to meet people’s demand.

State Bank of Vietnam and Ministry of Finance shall take charge and cooperate with relevant regulatory bodies in negotiating assistance packages with the World Bank and other international organizations to fund the fight against COVID-19.

3. The Prime Minister held organizations, enterprises and individuals contributing to the fight against COVID-19 in high regard. The Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front shall take charge in calling for and receiving contributions to COVID-19 prevention and control and transferring such contributions to the Ministry of Health for their intended use.

4. Relevant local governments and ministries shall decide to declare epidemics in Hanoi, Da Nang and some other localities as per the law.

5. Ministries and local governments shall strictly implement the Prime Minister's Directive No. 11/CT-TTg dated March 04, 2020 and other directions from the Prime Minister regarding facilitation of production, business and services.

6. National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control shall:

- Propose suitable allowance rates for quarantined persons, healthcare officials and workers, soldiers and workers in quarantine zones and isolation areas in hospitals.

- Report necessary matters to the Prime Minister for timely decision.

7. Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Ministry of Health shall urgently prepare and submit reports on COVID-19 prevention and control to the Politburo.

For your reference and compliance./.

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