Notice 238/TB-VPCP in 2020 on the conclusions of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Government Standing meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control issued by the Government Office

NOTICE

CONCLUSION OF THE PRIME MINISTER NGUYEN XUAN PHUC AT THE GOVERNMENT MEETING ON INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

In the afternoon of July 10, 2020, the Prime Minister (PM) Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the meeting of the Government on infection prevention and control of Covid-19 pandemic. The meeting was attended by Deputy PMs Pham Binh Minh, Vu Duc Dam, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy Chief of Central Office Nguyen Dac Vinh, representatives of Central Propaganda Committee, representatives of the People’s Committees of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and members of National Steering Committee for infection prevention and control of Covid-19 pandemic (hereinafter referred to as “National Steering Committee”)

After listening to the report of the National Steering Committee, opinions of the Deputy PMs and participants in the meeting, the PM have given the following directives:

Thanks to the effort of the entire political system over the last 3 months, Vietnam has had significant achievements in Covid-19 prevention and control. The society has entered the new normal state without community cases; 95% of the patients have recovered with zero deaths. 55 flights have been made to safely repatriate Vietnamese citizens, etc.

The Covid-19 situation in the world is still extremely complicated and unpredictable. Outbreaks have occurred in multiple areas.  Health authorities, the army and the police authorities, etc. need to maintain control over the epidemic situation; continue implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures that are appropriate for the new situation; prevent community transmission; intensify border control activities along the borderline, at border checkpoints, especially where there are border crossings to prevent illegal immigration, organization. Other tasks emphasized by the PM:

1. There has been a steep increase in demand for entry into Vietnam by overseas Vietnamese nationals, foreign investors, experts and overseas students. The Government will consider allowing their entry in an appropriate order of priority and within the capacity of Vietnam’s quarantine facilities.

First of all, the Ministry of Transport shall take charge and closely cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health in providing guidance for Vietnam Airlines to promptly organize repatriation of Vietnamese citizens from Equatorial Guinea.

2. Diplomats, experts, investors, skilled workers and foreign students who are studying in Vietnam will be allowed to enter Vietnam. Family (parents, spouse, children) of diplomats, experts and investors will be allowed to enter Vietnam. These people shall be tested and quarantined properly.

The Ministry of Health shall provide recommendations and instructions on how to quarantine inbound passengers.

The Ministry of Public Security shall continue standardization of procedures to satisfy epidemic prevention and control requirements of the Ministry of Health when these people enter Vietnam.

3. Health quarantine:

- The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall cooperate with each other in organizing the expansion increase of quarantine capacity (at least 10.000 more people).

- The Ministry of National Defense shall continue playing the pivotal role in management of quarantine, inspection and supervision of epidemic prevention and control tasks at quarantine facilities, including those that are lodging establishments and civil quarantine facilities.

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the People’s Committee of Hanoi and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City shall provide the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Health with the list of lodging establishments that are utilized as civil quarantine facilities, including those serving quarantine of inbound experts, investors and skilled workers.

- The People’s Committees of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City shall be prepared to receive inbound passengers and provide assistance in their quarantine in these cities.

- The Ministry of Health shall submit a written report to the PM on its decision to open accounts to receive assistance funds for quarantine facilities.

4. Resumption of international flights:

- The PM agrees to resume flights between Vietnam and China; the frequency and requirements for air transport of passengers between Vietnam and China shall be agreed upon by air transport authorities of both countries.

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall take charge and cooperate with the Ministry of Transport and relevant authorities in negotiating with other countries about opening commercial flights between Vietnam and such countries; organize repatriation of Vietnamese citizens at major transit points, including Seoul (Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Taiwan, Guangzhou (China), Vientiane (Laos), Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall provide information about these transit points for overseas Vietnamese citizens.

5. The Ministry of Education and Training shall provide guidance for universities, especially those having educational association with foreign organizations and high-quality universities, to receive students from overseas; organize the reception of foreign students who go to Vietnam to study, especially those from Laos and Cambodia.

6. Press agencies shall continue publishing information about repatriation of Vietnamese citizens and permission for entry into Vietnam of diplomats, investors, experts and skilled workers with appropriate and flexible quarantine methods.

7. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalid and Social Affairs shall provide guidance on sending of Vietnamese guest workers to work in countries in which Covid-19 situation is under control.

8. National Steering Committee shall realize the PM’s conclusion; actively handle issues that arise during the repatriation of Vietnamese citizens and entry of investors, experts and skilled workers into Vietnam.

Foreign affairs, national defense, health and transport authorities shall continue providing guidance on acceleration, simplification and transparency of the repatriation of Vietnamese citizens, entry of foreigners into Vietnam to work and sending of Vietnamese guest workers to other countries.

9. The Ministry of Health shall propose to the Prime Minister, in writing, investment in facilities that manufacture Covid-19 vaccines; promptly implement measures for prevention and control of diphtheria and dengue.

10. Ministries, central authorities, the People’s Committees of provinces shall provide guidance on raising demand for tourism and trade, expansion and improvement of online work, study, medical examination and treatment, etc. the Ministry of Labor, War Invalid and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and State Bank of Vietnam shall provide guidance on provision of social security packages (62.000 billion VND) and assistance for businesses (16.000 billion VND), and make sure they are accessible to the workers and enterprises in need.

For your knowledge and compliance./.

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