Directive No. 11/CT-UBND of the Hanoi's People's Committee on implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures

DIRECTIVE

On drastically strengthening the implementation of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures in the new situation

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The COVID-19 pandemic’s development is complex and unpredictable. After 73 days of having no infected cases confirmed in the community, many localities in Vietnam have confirmed cases of infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in India, the United Kingdom, and South Africa with a very fast infection rate. After the holidays of April 30 and May 01, the people from the pandemic areas returned to the city to work and study, therefore the potential risk of infection in the community is very high. In implementation of the directions of the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Health, and the City Party Committee on pandemic prevention and control; to proactively prevent and control the spread of the pandemic, the Chairperson of the City People's Committee asked to drastically strengthen the implementation of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures in the new situation as follows:

1.  The entire system of governments at all levels of the City must identify the task of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control as an important, urgent, and top priority task in the coming time. It is not allowed to be neglect, subjective, caught off guard, the entire government system at all levels is mobilized to take part in the pandemic prevention and control, ensuring effective control, not letting the pandemic widely spread in the City. To continue to strictly implement the following viewpoints, principles, and mottos:

1.1. Heads of departments, branches, and heads at all local levels shall proactively direct the coordination and update of the domestic and international situation, review to constantly improve and organize the strict implementation of pandemic prevention and control measures within the scope of management in accordance with the pandemic situation and actual requirements; not be passive in possible outbreak scenarios; ensure strict, proper functions, duties, authority, easy to implement, supervise, check and clear responsibilities of organizations and individuals.

Officers, Party members, civil servants, and public employees must be exemplary, actively participate in and take the lead in the implementation of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures. All cases of neglect, subjectivity, loss of alertness, irresponsibility, improper implementation of regulations and directions on pandemic prevention and control must be determined by collective and individual responsibility for strict handling according to regulations of the Party and laws of the State.

1.2. To deeply grasp the viewpoint "fighting the pandemic as an enemy"; drastically implement pandemic prevention and control measures under the direction of the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Health, the City Party Committee, the City People's Committee and the Hanoi Steering Committee on COVID-19 prevention and control. To speed up the implementation of measures to early detect infectious sources, trace, promptly quarantine, quickly localize, and thoroughly stamp out pandemic.

2. COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures shall be strictly implemented

2.1. The propaganda must be further strengthened, faster, more effective; propaganda on commune and ward loudspeakers and mobile propaganda (such as propaganda vehicles of the police or forces, etc.) should be paid attention to. The role of the community COVID-19 groups, etc. shall be promoted in order to raise awareness and mobilize the entire political system’s and the people’s participation in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic with the motto “going every lane, knocking house by house and checking each subject”.

To propagate and mobilize the people only leave homes when necessary and take measures to prevent and control pandemic as follows: Mandatory health declaration under regulations; wearing a mask when leaving homes; avoiding mass gatherings in public areas, other than offices, schools, or hospitals; keeping a minimum distance of 01 meter when being in contact; washing the hands often with soap or hand sanitizers. When there are signs of cough, fever, shortness of breath, or symptoms of suspected COVID-19 infection, the people must immediately go to the medical establishments for prompt guidance, examination, and treatment.

2.2. To ensure safety in pandemic prevention and control for medical examination and treatment establishments. At the same time, to provide treatment for infected cases, in order to minimize the death.

2.3. To quickly trace all cases, take samples and absolutely isolate F1 cases, strictly manage F2 cases in accordance with regulations.

To organize zoning according to epidemiological investigations, ensuring the correct size, extent, and number of subjects. For lockdown areas, it is necessary to strictly control people from entering and leaving in accordance with the spirit of “nobody in, nobody out”. Inside the quarantine areas: Members of a household must be separate from those of another household.

2.4. To organize screening tests in high-risk areas, pay attention to areas with many experts, industrial parks, etc., and at-risk subjects (such as those who come from pandemic areas, or those with symptoms of cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc.) in order to assess the pandemic risk and provide timely and effective prevention solutions.

2.5. All units from city to districts, towns, communes, wards, and townships must review the pandemic prevention and control plans; increase capacity for traceability, quarantine, testing, and treatment, etc. in case of an outbreak.

To prepare enough quarantine establishments, increase the quarantine capacity to ensure enough rooms and sick beds in the event of widespread outbreaks. To strictly manage concentrated quarantine areas, especially in hotels, not letting cross-infection in the concentrated quarantine areas and outbreak in the community. Units assigned to organize the concentrated quarantine shall review the physical foundations for the strict management of quarantined people; quarantine areas must be equipped with sufficient cameras which operate continuously, and are connected to the surveillance system designated by the Ministry of Information and Communications. To ensure the strict observance of regulations on handover, transport, and receipt of people who have completed their concentrated quarantine period and return home as prescribed.

2.6. Pandemic prevention and control in service establishments, production and business, passenger transportation, and in high-rise apartment buildings and service centers:

- To close street eateries, sidewalk iced tea shops, and cafes. Other service or business and operation establishments must take measures to ensure safety in pandemic prevention and control such as: Providing protective equipment for staff, checking body temperature; arranging adequate facilities and materials to wash hands, disinfect at the establishment and ensure a safe distance when being in contact. Regarding indoor restaurants, it is required to carry out cleaning and disinfection; a minimum distance of 01 meter from each other must be kept or there must be a shield between sitting positions; it is not allowed to use shared items, take away food and beverage are highly recommended.

- To take pandemic prevention and control measures in public passenger transportation: Passengers and drives must wear masks, make health declaration, hand sanitizers must be equipped on vehicles; list of passengers (including full name, address, contact number) in case of inter-provincial passenger transportation; seats for passengers should be arranged to ensure safe distance.

- COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control implementation in households, apartments, schools, head offices, meetings, shopping malls, supermarkets, convenience stores, wholesale markets, local markets, industrial parks, factories, etc. according to the Decision No. 3888/QD-BYT dated September 08, 2020 of the Ministry of Health, promulgating the "Handbook on prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic in the community in the new normal".

2.7. To stop festivals, religious ceremonies, sports tournaments, karaoke, bars, discos, games, Internet; cinemas; spa, massage, sauna, and gym service facilities; sports, events gathering people in public areas, flower gardens or parks until the new direction of the City Steering Committee is issued. To organize weddings and funerals in a civilized manner, minimize mass gatherings and ensure strict implementation of pandemic prevention and control measures.

2.8. Heads of agencies, units, organizations, and establishments shall take responsibility for the pandemic prevention and control in their agencies, organizations, units, and establishments: Not to hold unnecessary meetings and conferences, not to organize parties, celebrations; online meetings and use of information technology are encouraged, not to delay work, especially for jobs with a time limit or statute of limitations as prescribed by law, public services to serve people and enterprises.

2.9. To drastically implement pandemic prevention and control measures in the election of deputies to the XV^th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the term of 2021 - 2026. Inspection delegations at all levels of the City shall strengthen the inspection, urging and supervising the implementation of pandemic prevention and control in combination with the election of deputies to the XV^th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the term of 2021 - 2026 at localities.

3. The Departments of Health shall:

- Based on the characteristics, nature, and mechanism of the transmission of the virus in the City, direct the plan to zone, isolate, and test according to the priority level of urgency suitable to each subject and area.

- To guide and coordinate with People's Committees of districts and towns in directing, inspecting, and promptly and effectively detecting, isolating, and zoning off when detecting infectious cases and outbreaks in localities. When detecting a positive case, it is required to urgently surround and disinfect relevant places under regulations. At the same time, to organize speedy tracing, quickly identify related cases exposure the infected cases to conduct testing and medical quarantine according to regulations; resolutely dedicate all resources and solutions to thoroughly handle emerging outbreaks.

- To direct Hanoi's Center for Disease Control and medical centers in coordinating with hospitals and central units in the city to urgently conduct testing as quickly as possible according to the direction of the Central and City. To perform screening tests in at-risk areas; conduct tests for cases showing symptoms of fever cough, shortness of breath during medical examination at hospitals, conduct tests for suspected cases and other necessary cases to ensure early detection of cases for effective pandemic prevention and control.

- To direct and strengthen the inspection of hospitals, medical examination, and treatment establishments in the City, develop and implement plans for separation, screening, and testing under the guidance of the Ministry of Health to detect timely infected cases, absolutely prevent the pandemic from spreading in hospitals, medical examination, and treatment establishments. To have plans to ensure safety for health officers and workers, people involved in the pandemic prevention and control, and patients, with special attention to the elderly, people with background diseases. One severe patient shall be cared for by only one caregiver; others are not allowed to visit patients at hospitals in the City. To strictly implement the Safe hospitals and clinics under the Ministry of Health's instructions.

- To review, prepare force sources and develop plans to respond to the pandemic. To purchase necessary medical equipment, tools, and supplies to meet requirements on pandemic prevention and control in the area.

4. The Hanoi Capital High Command shall preside over and coordinate with the Department of Health, the People's Committees of districts and towns to organize the concentrated quarantine at the establishments managed by the Hanoi Capital High Command; and manage the civil quarantine facilities established by the City.

5.  The Hanoi City Police shall continue to direct the police offices of districts and towns to coordinate with local authorities and health establishments to quickly check cases related to infected cases and people traveling from other provinces to Hanoi according to the motto of going every lane, knocking house by house, and checking each subject, leaving no exception to promptly serve pandemic prevention and control. To manage the immigration and foreigners residing in localities, detect people illegally entering Vietnam and put them into quarantine areas; strictly handle individuals who do not make health declaration or make untruthful health declaration, strictly handle organizations and individuals involved in sending people or harboring people who illegally enter Vietnam. Especially, to quickly brought to trial the cases of bringing people into Vietnam illegally.

6.  The Department of Industry and Trade shall review commodity contingency plans according to the pandemic prevention and control plan; strengthen the commodity circulation connection, ensuring to meet the people’s consumer demand. To coordinate with People's Committees of districts and towns to ensure supply of goods to people in quarantine areas.

7.  The Department of Information and Communications, the People's Committees of districts and towns, Hanoi Radio and Television Broadcasting, and press agencies of Hanoi City shall strengthen to propagandize sufficient information about the pandemic development in a timely, public and transparent manner; propagandize the people to comply with the recommendation “5K”: Wearing masks - Disinfection - Keeping distance - No mass gatherings - Health declaration; propaganda to the people to limit travel, especially in the summer.

8.  The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall organize the effective implementation of social security and business support packages in accordance with regulations; strengthen inspection of pandemic prevention and control at social relief establishments, establishments nurturing people with meritorious services, vocational education institutions, and detoxification establishments, etc.

9. The Transport Department shall proactively arrange the number of vehicles to ensure the travel needs of people. To strengthen inspection and supervision of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control at bus stations, wharves, and public vehicles; the vehicle owners are required to commit to taking responsibility for ensuring the pandemic prevention and control when conducting transport business: seats shall be arranged to ensure that between two passengers is an empty seat, and the number of full seats must not exceed 50% of the licensed seats; the vehicle must be equipped with hand sanitizer water, passengers and drivers must wear masks.

10. The Department of Education and Training shall assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the Department of Health in, directing and guiding the inspection of pandemic prevention and control in schools. To develop appropriate teaching plans to ensure pandemic prevention and control under the direction of the Ministry of Education and Training and the City.

11. The Department of Culture and Sports shall intensify inspection and handle violations related to pandemic prevention and control in the fields of culture, sports, festival management; propagate and organize the implementation of the City's cultural lifestyle and behavior rules, advise and guide cultural activities in the area to ensure safety.

12. The Hanoi's Market Management Department shall strengthen the market management to avoid speculation and price hike poses; inspect and control goods of unknown origin, counterfeit goods, fake goods, pay attention to goods serving pandemic prevention and control; prevent wildlife trafficking.

13. Management boards of industrial parks and export processing zones shall coordinate with relevant units in:

- Directing affiliated enterprises to strictly implement pandemic prevention and control measures according to the Decision No. 2194/QD-BCDQG dated May 27, 2020 of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, promulgating the “Guidance on prevention, and assessment of the risk of COVID-19 infection at the workplace and dormitory for employees” and the Decision No. 3888/QD-BYT dated September 08, 2020 of the Ministry of Health, approving the "Handbook on prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic in the community in the new normal". Enterprises may maintain production only when meeting the requirements for COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.

- Requesting employers in production and business establishments to regularly inspect and remind their employees to strictly comply with the 5K recommendation in pandemic prevention and control. Employees are required to make health declarations with sufficient information so that authorities can quickly detect and trace people who are likely to be infected, etc.; cases of failure to declare or declare untruthfully shall be strictly handled.

14. The Departments, branches, and units directly under the City shall based on their functions, tasks, and assignments of the Hanoi People's Committee and the Hanoi's Steering Committee on COVID-19 prevention and control, promptly and effectively implement the assigned pandemic prevention and control measures; strengthen inspection, examination and strictly handle units that do not strictly implement the pandemic prevention and control.

15. People’s Committees of districts and towns shall

- Take full responsibility for the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic in the area; strengthen inspection and strictly implement pandemic prevention and control measures under the direction of the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health, the City Party Committee, the City People's Committee and the Hanoi's Steering Committee on COVID-19 prevention and control. Implement the pandemic prevention and control according to the four on-the-spot motto.

- Continue to launch the mass movement, coordinate with the Fatherland Front and local mass organizations to propagate to each population group, residential area, and households to voluntarily implement the City's pandemic prevention measures.

- Direct communes, wards, townships, and functional forces, especially the COVID-19 community team to review cases, related people, and people from other provinces to Hanoi according to the motto of going every lane, knocking house by house and checking each subject, leaving no exception to promptly serve pandemic prevention and control. Households are required to make commitments on making health declaration

- Drastically direct the tracing of contacts, strictly manage the quarantine and post-quarantine, and medical surveillance at home. Manage the temporary absence, temporary residence, promptly detect cases of illegal entry into the community, people returning from pandemic areas without health declaration according to regulations.

- Direct agencies and units in the area, places of mass gathering (such as supermarkets, markets, stations, etc.) to have plans for pandemic prevention and control to meet the requirements, to self-equip necessary equipment and supplies for pandemic prevention and control.

- Direct the strict implementation of concentrated quarantine at quarantine establishments at hotels, other concentrated quarantine establishments other than those managed by the Hanoi Capital High Command in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

- Strengthen inspection and supervision of pandemic prevention and control and strictly handle violations related to pandemic prevention and control in localities as prescribed.

16. The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi and municipal socio-political organizations are requested to coordinate with authorities at all levels to strengthen the mobilization of the people to raise their sense of self-consciousness and actively participate in pandemic prevention and control. To continue mobilizing, caring for, and supporting people affected by the pandemic in the City; mobilize and organize the receipt and efficient use of funds, medical equipment, and supplies in service of pandemic prevention and control.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi and municipal socio-political organizations, Directors and Heads of Departments, sectors, and branches, agencies and units in the City; Chairpersons of People's Committees of districts, towns, communes and townships and relevant organizations, units, and individuals are requested to strictly implement this Directive./.