Official Telegram 1063/CD-TTg on COVID-19 prevention and control

OFFICIAL TELEGRAM

On COVID-19 prevention and control

________

THE PRIME MINISTER notifies:

- Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities;

- Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies.

In response to the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic and to implement the appeal of the General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 30/2021/QH15 dated July 28, 2021, the Prime Minister requests Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies to perform the following tasks:

1. Provinces and centrally-run cities shall focus on directing the strongly, drastically and effectively implementation of specific measures to prevent and control the pandemic in line with the directions of the Government, the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

2. Localities currently placed under social distancing in accordance with the Directive No. 16/CT-TTg shall have to seriously and consistently implement the Directive and stricter restrictions could be imposed in line with real situation.

Localities shall widely propagate, strictly control and immediately implement necessary measures to support the people's life and health so that they can feel secure to “stay where they are”. No one is allowed to leave the places of residence after July 31, 2021 until the social distancing period is over (except for those authorized by the government).

Leaders of provinces and cities shall be held responsible before the Prime Minister if their citizens leave the province or city without permission. For those who have left the province or city to other provinces, the relevant provinces must organize the safe pick-up and drop-off to their destination. Testing, transporting by shift vans shall be organized (trucks can be arranged to carry citizens’ motorbikes if they travel by motorbikes). It is required to fully hand over, organize quarantine and medical surveillance according to regulations, to prevent the disease from spreading.

The Ministry of Public Security shall direct the Public Security of provinces and cities to advise the Provincial People's Committee and organize the pick-up and drop-off.

The system and network to care for and treat people infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus must be effectively organized according to treatment tiers. Localities shall have to focus and prioritize on improving capacity and treatment quality, especially for critically ill patients in order to minimize deaths from COVID-19.

3. Social distancing measure in line with the Directive No. 16 shall continue to be extended for another 14 days (from the date of ending the social distancing measure under the Official Dispatch No. 969/TTg-KGVX) in provinces and centrally-run cities currently placed under social distancing according to the Prime Minister's direction in the Official Dispatch No. 969/TTg-KGVX dated July 17, 2021.

Other provinces, where the pandemic is put under control after a period of implementing social distancing, shall be allowed to relax the rules of social distancing according to each region within the province. For the inter-provincial area, there must be an agreement with the relevant provinces and must report to the Government's Special Working Group and the Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control before making a decision.

4. Provinces and centrally-run cities shall:

a) Strictly implement regulations on pandemic prevention and control, maintain the anti-pandemic results; prevent the pandemic from spreading in the areas; and at the same time, coordinate, provide support and assistance to Ho Chi Minh City and other localities where the pandemic remains complicated.

Mobilize and call on their citizens not to leave Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An and other localities undergoing social distancing and comply with the spirit of not leaving the place of residence - “stay where you are”.

Immediately organize to provide sufficient food and foodstuffs to poor people or those without income in order to leave no one in hunger. Organize necessary medical support for all citizens. Support their citizens who are living in Ho Chi Minh City and provinces with complicated pandemic and a large number of cases.

b) Organize fast vaccination safely and effectively to the right priority groups, without letting the vaccines expire; avoid vaccine selection, taking advantage of positions in order that wrong subjects are vaccinated and negative issues in the vaccination. Strictly and timely handle cases of violations according to law provisions. Heads of authorities shall take direct responsibility for the pandemic prevention and control, including the vaccination.

c) Strengthen the mobilization of public and private health staff (especially intensive care staff) to participate the pandemic prevention and control in localities. Take appropriate measures to improve the quality and increase the quantity of doctors, nurses and technicians. Ready to support the localities with complicated pandemic development and a large number of confirmed cases, such as Ho Chi Minh City and some Southern localities under the coordination of the Ministry of Health.

Focus on taking care of morale, ensure protective equipment, and provide material support to health staff and forces directly involved in the fight against the pandemic. Develop plans for rational use of health force. For localities where the health force is not required, guide other forces and the people for the implementation.

d) Develop plans and implement the procurement of medical supplies and equipment; plans for ensuring production and life, social security and social order according the pandemic scenarios; stand ready for worse situations; avoiding negative issues in the procurement.

5. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Information and Communications shall guide, direct the transparently and timely disclosure of information on the pandemic prevention and control in order that the people know, support and actively participate in the implementation of pandemic prevention and control measures.

The Ministry of Public Security shall direct to strictly handle cases of disseminating inaccurate information that negatively affect the pandemic prevention and control.

6. The Ministry of Health shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies in, urging the fast and effective production and supply of vaccines and medicines for the COVID-19 prevention and control according the simplified procedures; review and propose to supplement appropriate regimes and policies for health staff and other frontline forces participating in the pandemic prevention and control./.