Minister of Public Security To Lam: Resolutely and urgently implement 8 orders to prevent Covid-19

Minister of Public Security To Lam.

On March 24, General To Lam - Politburo member, Minister of Public Security issued Official Dispatch No. 01 directing heads of public security units and localities to resolutely, seriously and urgently implement measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic.

The content of the telegram clearly states: Following the telegram No. 328/DK-HT dated March 23, 2020 of the Ministry on Covid-19 prevention and control; implementing the Prime Minister's direction on inspection and screening to prevent people infected or suspected of being infected with Covid-19 from returning to the country from abroad from spreading to the community, the Minister of Public Security requests Directors and Heads of Public Security of units and localities to resolutely, seriously and urgently implement the following working orders:

Firstly, the Heads and Directors of the local Public Security Departments shall direct the Ward, Town and Commune Police to conduct a house-by-house inspection, manage each residential group and neighborhood, "go to every alley, knock on every door" to compile a list of foreigners and Vietnamese citizens who entered the country from abroad and are currently residing in the locality from March 7, 2020 to March 24, 2020 (replaced by statistical data from March 10, 2020 to March 23, 2020 according to the Ministry's Telegram No. 328/DK-HT, dated March 23, 2020) and report to the Ministry before 6:00 p.m. on March 25, 2020 for synthesis and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Based on the statistical results, the Chief of Police at all levels shall immediately report to the Head of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control at all levels in the locality for direction on handling.

Second, the police of units and localities proactively coordinate closely with Party committees, authorities, sectors and levels to check crowded places, thereby propagating, mobilizing and explaining to raise people's awareness, self-dispersing, not gathering in crowds to prevent and fight the Covid-19 epidemic, limiting the spread to the community.

Third, the police of units and localities proactively coordinate with functional forces to ensure absolute safety, security and order at centralized quarantine locations. There is a plan to assign officers and soldiers to take shifts at centralized quarantine locations; fully equip frontline officers and soldiers with medical equipment and supplies to participate in epidemic prevention and control; absolutely do not let officers and soldiers be infected with Covid-19 while performing their duties.

Fourth, heads of police units and localities are responsible for epidemic prevention and control work at their headquarters; leaders and commanders of police at all levels must set an example and thoroughly instruct officers and soldiers to minimize direct contact with large crowds to minimize the risk of infection from the community.

Units have plans to arrange 3 working shifts in places with high risk of infection to carry out work, not letting the whole unit have to be quarantined. Organize the establishment of a permanent unit (including medical staff, logistics, command staff, etc.) to organize initial medical care (measure body temperature, open a logbook to monitor entry and exit activities based on epidemiological factors; require wearing masks and instructing to regularly wash hands with quick disinfectant solution) for all people and officers and soldiers coming to work at the unit, contact work to promptly detect cases of Covid-19 infection and suspected infection to have a response plan.

Nghe An is implementing centralized quarantine for citizens returning from Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Thailand... In which, citizens returning from Laos are mainly. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Fifth, medical units in the People's Public Security must proactively follow the political tasks of the units to organize the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic. The Department of Health shall take the lead in urgently organizing quarantine areas and field hospitals to be ready to serve the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic in the People's Public Security force and to serve the people.

Sixth, relevant professional units and the police of border provinces proactively coordinate closely with the Border Guard and functional forces to do a good job of border management, control people and vehicles crossing the border to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Seventh, in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic situation in the world and in the country, the development of crime may have complicated impacts and developments. The police force needs to focus on the fight against crime; promptly detect and handle opposing subjects who post distorted propaganda, causing panic among the people, opposing subjects who do not comply with the provisions of the law, regulations on disease prevention and control, other criminal offenses such as theft, causing disturbances, smuggling, production of counterfeit goods... especially goods related to disease prevention and control.

The dispatch emphasized: This is a key task of the police of all units and localities and is extremely important and urgent, and needs to be implemented immediately and resolutely in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy". Therefore, the Ministry's leaders requested that the heads of the police of all units and localities uphold their sense of responsibility and initiative to strictly direct the implementation of work orders./.