The Ministry of Health recommends extending the period of nationwide social distancing.
The Deputy Minister of Health stated that social distancing is a crucial measure to control the Covid-19 epidemic, therefore the Ministry proposed that the Prime Minister consider extending the duration of Directive 16.
On the afternoon of April 6th, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a briefing with localities on the situation of COVID-19 prevention and control. The Prime Minister stated that implementing nationwide social distancing is a necessary measure in the current context. He requested that ministries and agencies discuss and consider whether or not to extend this social distancing period.
"From now until the 15th, we must not be complacent in epidemic prevention and control. Besides implementing Directives 15 and 16, we need more proactive measures to restore the economy after the epidemic," Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc instructed.
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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting with local authorities. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Press Center. |
At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, Deputy Minister of Health, proposed that the Prime Minister consider extending the nationwide social distancing period after the initial two weeks. The Deputy Minister of Health stated that this is an important measure to control Covid-19.
"Due to the implementation of nationwide social distancing, it is expected that the number of infections will not increase rapidly in the coming period, but only a few cases will appear. Vietnam is controlling the Covid-19 epidemic well, and there have been no deaths so far," Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long emphasized.
The Ministry of Health proposes isolating and testing all incoming diplomatic staff, government officials, and experts, even if they have a negative test certificate. Special cases requiring specific solutions must seek the opinions of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Transport.
In the coming period, the Ministry of Health requests the Ministry of Transport to direct the Civil Aviation Authority to inform all airlines to pick up people returning to the country and not to bring people into Vietnam, except in special cases.
The Ministry of Public Security needs to direct local police to closely monitor the situation of foreign immigrants in order to compile lists and apply appropriate management measures.
"Currently, there is a number of people entering the country without identification documents who, after completing quarantine, don't know where to go and have no relatives in Vietnam. We have proposed the need for temporary accommodation for this group of people in the southern region," the Deputy Minister of Health informed.
As of April 6th, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Vietnam was 241, with 91 patients having recovered. Of the 5 critically ill patients, only 2 still required mechanical ventilation: patient 91 (the British pilot) being treated at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and an 88-year-old patient at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
