Directive 15/CT-TTg on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak

DIRECTIVE

On drastically implementing the prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak

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In March 2020, the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic are continuing to be deployed nationwide with the participation of the political system, branches, levels, and the entire population. We have been mitigating and controlling the pandemic and highly appreciated by the international community. The people agree and believe in the leadership of the Party and the State.

However, the pandemic is spreading globally with many complicated and unpredictable development, the number of infected cases and deaths dramatically increases and shows no sign of ending. In our country, there were only 16 infected cases in February, but just in 20 days (from March 06 to March 26), 137 new infected cases were detected in 23 provinces and cities, about 8.5 times more than the previous infected cases, bringing the total infected cases to 153 cases. There has been a contagion among medical staff and the community, especially in some major cities, causing concern among the people. Our country is in the critical peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.

With an aim to effectively mitigate and control the widespread of COVID-19, take prompt and proactive precautions nationwide, best protect the people’s health and lives, the Prime Minister requests:

1. Authorities at all levels, branches, and localities and the general public to thoroughly grasp the spirit of "fighting against the pandemic as fighting against the enemy" and sacrifice economic benefits to prevent and combat the pandemic. The best protection of people s health and lives is the ultimate goal. There shall boost determination and efforts in implementing solutions and tasks to prevent and control the pandemic in accordance with the guidance of the Political Bureau, the Central Secretariat Committee, the Government, and the Prime Minister. Also, there must strengthen disciplines; absolutely do not neglect, subjective and accelerate effective measures for early detection of sources of infection, prompt isolation, quick zoning, and thorough suppression.

2. The provincial People’s Committees shall direct and apply the following measures to restrict crowded gatherings from 00:00 on March 28 to the end of April 15, 2020:

a) To suspend all meetings, events of over 20 people in one room; not gather over 10 people outside of offices, schools, and hospitals; keep a distance of at least 2 meters away from other people at public places.

b) To stop all spiritual events and activities of over 20 people at religious, belief and worship establishments; suspend all cultural, sport and entertainment events in public areas.

c) To postpone operations of service and trading facilities in areas, except for those selling essential goods and services. The People s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall decide which service trading facilities need to be closed.

d) To restrict the commuting of the citizens, especially those from pandemic provinces and cities to other localities. The Ministry of Transport shall direct to limit flights and passenger transportation activities from Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City to other areas of the country. To postpone or re-organize public transport to restrict commuting and social gatherings, excluding cargo vehicles.

The Prime Minister and the authorities of competent levels shall consider punishing and strictly tackling with the heads of localities where the crowed gathering has occurred.

3.  The Ministries of Health, Defence, Public Security and the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall:

a) To urgently review and request the implementation of health declaration, health status updating and screening with people entered Vietnam from March 08, 2020, that are not subject to concentrated isolation to apply appropriate isolation and supervision measures.

Authorities at all levels, especially grassroots level, the police in district and localities, the youth volunteers in the area, the population groups and the villages, etc. shall strengthen the supervision of isolated cases at home, minimize the communication of subjects proposed for medical isolation; enforce medical isolation for cases of anti-isolation as prescribed by law.

b) To continue to strictly control people entering and leaving on land borders (especially the borders with Laos and Cambodia), airways, waterways, and seaways. To strengthen the capability of manpower and facilities, ensuring the concentrated isolation for all cases of entry. To focus on ensuring safety for the immigration management staff and staff working at border gates, concentrated isolation zones and other civil isolation establishments. To prepare the appropriate plan to regulate the receipt, classification, and screening of people on entry to ensure that no overloading of concentrated isolation establishments on the land borders.

c) The Ministry of Health shall direct the medical examination and treatment separation to meet the people s requirements of medical examination and treatment; to have the better plans to take care and protect the doctors, medical staff, especially in hospitals treating people infected with COVID-19; to supply supplies equipment for provinces next to Laos and Cambodia.

d) The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 prevention and control shall continue to direct Ministries, branches and localities to ensure adequate conditions on human resources, equipment, medicines, medical supplies, and pandemic prevention and control plans, including mobilization of organizations and enterprises facilities to respond to the pandemic on a large scale. To complete scenarios on the application of the pandemic emergency state and report the Prime Minister before March 28, 2020.

Authorities of provinces and cities shall increase investment in testing expansion. The big cities shall increase testing capacity and implement an early testing strategy for isolation.

4. The Ministries ofPublic Security, Health, Information and Communications, the People s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall strictly tackle, including applying criminal law cases of spreading false news, not submit health declarations or offer deceitful health information; evade, oppose and disobey medical isolation measures; hoarding goods, raising prices, triggering market instability strictly according to law provisions.

5. The Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Health shall continue to promptly provide complete, public and transparent information about the pandemic development; focus on not gathering people, encourage and guide voluntary health declaration, early detection and notify authorities of suspected cases.

6. Authorities at levels, branches shall innovate and enhance working methods to adapt to the context of pandemic prevention and control. To boost the application of information technology, online activities in directing, operating, working, studying, implementing administrative procedures; guide and encourage people to use online public services and undergo online administrative procedures.

7. The Prime Minister asks the people to remain calm, rest assured, continue to trust and support the pandemic prevention and control measures. Every citizen should be a soldier to prevent and fight against the pandemic; continue to participate and repel the pandemic. Firstly, to strictly implement measures not to gather in large numbers; only leave the house in case of necessity, wash hands frequently, wear a medical mask in public places, increase self-protection of health; limiting to medical examination and treatment establishments except where necessary and well implementing the recommendations of functional authorities, especially for the elders with underlying diseases.

8. The Government request the Vietnam Fatherland Front, organizations and unions to coordinate with authorities at all levels to mobilize the people to comply with pandemic prevention and control measures; continue to mobilize organizations, enterprises and the people to support the pandemic prevention and control.

To request the Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to direct and promote the role of volunteering and actively support authorities at all levels and the people in implementing the pandemic prevention and control measures.

9. Apart from drastic prevention and control of the pandemic, authorities of all levels and branches must focus on drastically implementing specific and effective measures to remove difficulties for production and business, ensuring social security./.