The Government issued a Resolution on Covid-19 prevention and control

The resolution stated: The Covid-19 epidemic is evolving very complicatedly in many localities across the country, especially in Ho Chi Minh City.Prime Ministeragreed to apply social distancing measures according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTg (Directive 16) in 19 southern provinces and cities to promptly prevent and repel the Covid-19 epidemic.

However, the discipline and order in implementing epidemic prevention and control measures of some state agencies and some people are not high and not in accordance with regulations; transportation and circulation of goods between localities implementing social distancing with other localities are still in short supply and locally congested; the supply of goods, especially food, foodstuffs, and essential necessities for people in localities implementing social distancing is still not really proactive and effective in some places and at some times; coordination between ministries, branches, and localities is not really close; some localities have not met the requirements on epidemic prevention and control capacity in the area.

The Government requests the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, ministries and branches to strengthen centralized, unified and specialized direction for Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces at the inter-regional level; at the same time, strengthen discipline, order, raise people's awareness of compliance, ensure stricter and more effective implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures according to Directive 16, especially to be able to implement social distancing at a higher level for areas with complicated epidemiological developments in some localities; with the goal of protecting and taking care of people's health and lives first and foremost.

Establishment of a special Government task force to carry out Covid-19 prevention and control work

The Government has decided to establish a "special" Government Task Force, located in Ho Chi Minh City under the direction of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, to immediately handle and resolve urgent tasks and issues arising in the work of COVID-19 prevention and control in Ho Chi Minh City and provinces and cities implementing social distancing.

The Working Group consists of Deputy Ministers of the Ministries of National Defense (Head of the Group), Public Security, Health (Deputy Head of the Group); Agriculture and Rural Development, Information and Communications, Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, Construction, Industry and Trade, Transport; Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City (member).

The members are Deputy Ministers of ministries who exercise the authority of Ministers in directly resolving issues within the functions, tasks and powers of their ministries and coordinate with the members of the Working Group to carry out the general coordination work of the Group and implement the direction and administration of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The Government assigned Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, to directly direct the activities of the Working Group within his authority and report to the Prime Minister for any activities beyond his authority. The Working Group's operating regulations shall comply with the regulations of the National Steering Committee.

Assign the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Head of the Working Group, to urgently reach agreement with the members of the Group on the temporary operating regulations of the Working Group to promptly implement this Resolution, and report to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the National Steering Committee.

Procurement for COVID-19 prevention and control is an important and urgent task, subject to Articles 22 and 26 of the Law on Bidding.

The Resolution clearly states: The Minister of Health shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant agencies to issue a list of centralized procurement of biological products, supplies, medical equipment, etc. to serve epidemic prevention and control.

Based on the complicated developments of the epidemic, the requirement to protect people's health and lives is paramount. First of all, investing in and purchasing biological products, supplies, medical equipment, etc. in a timely and effective manner is an important and urgent task in the current epidemic prevention and control, and the procurement regulations in Articles 22 and 26 of the Law on Bidding are applied.

The Ministry of Health presides, together with the Ministries of Finance, Planning and Investment, Justice... under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, to urgently complete the mechanism and budget for the procurement of medical equipment, supplies, and biological products, complete the Submission and Draft Resolution of the Government on the procurement mechanism for COVID-19 prevention and control, and submit it to the Government for consideration and promulgation.

Raising awareness and compliance with Directive 16 among the people

The Government requests ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, especially localities implementing social distancing according to Directive 16, to unify the following guiding viewpoints:

Enhance the sense of responsibility, tighten discipline and order in directing and organizing the implementation of epidemic prevention and control, especially raising awareness and compliance with Directive 16 of the people regarding the requirements of personal distancing, between families, not gathering in large numbers, limiting travel, not leaving the house unless absolutely necessary... Agencies and units increase online work, arrange for people to work in rotation at the office not exceeding 50%. Implementing social distancing requirements according to the Prime Minister's Directive is both a responsibility, obligation and a right of every citizen. All violations must be strictly handled in accordance with regulations.

Focus and prioritize the highest possible resources for epidemic prevention and control activities in Ho Chi Minh City and provinces and cities that are implementing social distancing. Strengthen professional forces, experts, including independent experts, to ensure assessment, grasp and correct forecast of the situation and risks of the epidemic to have appropriate, feasible and effective prevention and control measures.

Carry out well the transportation and circulation of goods between localities implementing social distancing and other localities; ensure timely supply of goods, especially food, foodstuffs, and essential necessities for people in localities implementing social distancing. Pay attention to effectively implementing the work of ensuring social security and social order and safety in localities implementing social distancing.

Leadership and direction must be unified at the national level, but ministries, branches and localities must proactively and regularly exchange with each other to unify epidemic prevention and control measures, especially controlling people, goods and vehicles traveling to and from localities, ensuring close, smooth and effective coordination. Localities must not arbitrarily set up "sub-licenses" that cause congestion and hinder the circulation of goods and people performing official duties.

Focus on accelerating and effectively implementing the vaccine strategy, including increasing access to diverse vaccine sources to purchase as many vaccines as possible as soon as possible. Accelerate the progress of technology transfer, research, and domestic vaccine production. Organize a vaccination campaign to ensure timely, safe, and effective vaccination.

Overcoming the situation of social distancing that is not strict and effective

The Government requires provinces and cities that are implementing social distancing according to Directive 16 to implement it more strictly, strictly, and effectively.

Based on the situation and developments of the epidemic in the area, localities that are implementing social distancing should proactively, creatively, and flexibly apply appropriate measures and can apply measures with higher and stricter requirements than those prescribed in Directive 16, especially closely inspecting and monitoring the distance between people, between families, between residential groups, etc.; further restricting and tightening the exchanges and meetings between people. Reviewing and overcoming the shortcomings, limitations, and inadequacies that have occurred recently in epidemic prevention and control, especially the implementation of social distancing that is not strict and ineffective.

Mobilize the entire political system, especially the grassroots political system, including the military, police, mass organizations, and community COVID Teams to strengthen inspection, supervision, and propaganda to mobilize people to implement Directive 16.

Immediately review and propose specific requests for support in terms of human resources, especially doctors, nurses, technicians, biological products, equipment, medical supplies, etc.; other localities must also review and notify the number of human resources, types of vehicles, and equipment that can be provided and supported. The Government Office coordinates with the Ministry of Health to synthesize and coordinate, ensuring that there is no shortage or shortage for localities implementing social distancing and that there is no overlap or waste.

Proactively review and grasp the quantity and reception capacity of hotels, accommodation facilities, schools, student dormitories in the area and other infrastructure...; on that basis, prepare plans to promptly mobilize these facilities to ensure quarantine capacity in case of an outbreak, create quarantine areas for workers of safe production facilities, manage workers coming and going according to the motto "one route, two destinations"...

Assign specific responsibilities to each Minister

The Government unifies the assignment of responsibilities of Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Government agencies:

1. Minister of Health:

a) Prepare a higher scenario to avoid being passive and confused, carefully prepare response plans for each possible epidemic level. Absolutely do not let there be a shortage of hospitals and medical equipment, especially oxygen and ventilators.

b) Direct and guide the timely procurement of sufficient protective equipment for forces directly involved in epidemic prevention and control, including a higher proportion of reserve procurement to be ready to respond to epidemic situations; issue guiding documents according to simplified procedures.

c) Have written instructions on shortening the centralized quarantine period for entrants who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

d) Urgently and promptly provide guidance on classifying F0, F1, and F2 cases to have appropriate, scientific, strict, and effective management measures.

d) Pay special attention to directing the implementation of the vaccination campaign to ensure timely, safe and effective vaccination.

2. The Minister of National Defense directs and mobilizes forces (including local militia and self-defense forces) to participate in performing tasks in the spirit of a combat army, a working army, a production army, and ensuring security and order in localities implementing social distancing, circulating and transporting food and essential goods to serve the people; coordinates with the Ministry of Health to deploy the vaccination campaign; coordinates with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science and Technology to direct and promote domestic vaccine research and production activities.

3. The Minister of Public Security directs professional forces, local police, especially grassroots police, to immediately deploy necessary measures to ensure security, order, and social safety, strengthen consultation with Party committees and authorities on solutions to ensure economic security, food security, worker security, prevent extreme reactions, and oppose social distancing that cause social instability, especially in areas and regions that are being locked down and socially distanced according to Directive 16.

Mobilize all forces tasked with ensuring security and order at the grassroots level (civil defense, civil defense, security shock forces...) to join the grassroots political system in preventing and fighting the epidemic according to the 4 on-site motto.

4. The Minister of Transport focuses on directing and guiding the work of ensuring that goods, production materials, food, foodstuffs, and essential goods circulate smoothly and safely; proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Health to unify regulations and guide the implementation of processes and procedures for controlling people and means of transport circulating in isolated areas.

5. The Minister of Industry and Trade shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, relevant localities and enterprises to implement appropriate measures, direct, guide and coordinate to ensure the supply of goods, especially food, foodstuffs and essential goods, to avoid congestion. Focus on grasping the situation and promptly handling arising problems.

6. The Ministry of Finance shall proactively plan to balance financial resources (including the central budget, local budget, 10% savings budget, and other legal budget sources as prescribed) to promptly meet the requirements of epidemic prevention and control, ensuring strict compliance with regulations.

7. The Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam directed credit institutions to continue implementing policies to support people and businesses in borrowing and repaying debts, ensuring macroeconomic balance.

8. The Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs directs the strict implementation of Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP of the Government and Decision No. 23/2021/QD-TTg on supporting employees and employers facing difficulties; guides localities in implementing, reviewing, supplementing subjects in need of support and applying technology for inspection and supervision.

9. The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies to promote and facilitate the purchase of vaccines, transfer of technology for vaccine production, COVID-19 treatment drugs, medical supplies and equipment for epidemic prevention and control.

10. The Minister of Information and Communications directs:

a) Unified deployment of mandatory shared technology platforms in epidemic prevention and control nationwide; monitoring and evaluating the situation and implementation results to continuously improve mandatory shared technology platforms;

b) Large postal enterprises focus on participating in transporting and providing essential goods at postal service points (or via mobile forms) to people in localities implementing social distancing according to Directive 16;

c) Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, Nhan Dan Newspaper, and press agencies under their management shall effectively carry out communication work, promptly provide information to the people, contribute to consolidating and enhancing people's trust in the Party and State, mobilizing the entire population to unite and participate in epidemic prevention and control; so that people understand, stay calm, share, support and actively implement epidemic prevention and control solutions; monitor, combat, prevent and handle bad, distorted, fake, fabricated information, and forms of online fraud that take advantage of the epidemic situation in cyberspace.

11. The Minister of Science and Technology shall coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to continue to carry out research and production of vaccines, biological products, medical supplies and promote clinical trials of drugs to treat COVID-19.

12. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development ensures food for people in localities implementing social distancing.

13. The Minister of Planning and Investment shall issue written instructions to promptly handle problems related to procurement through bidding and centralized procurement.

14. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies to resolve environmental protection issues, especially medical waste treatment, in quarantine areas...

15. The President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology promotes research and production of biological products and drugs to treat COVID-19 to serve the prevention and control of the epidemic.

16. Ministries, agencies and localities have documents guiding epidemic prevention and control according to the Government's Directives and Resolutions issued in a simplified order and procedure.

The Government requests the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations to continue mobilizing people and businesses to promote the spirit of great solidarity, support, sharing, voluntarily and actively implement requirements and regulations on social distancing to prevent and fight the epidemic; this is not only the responsibility and obligation but also the right of each citizen, for the benefit of the community and for the development of the country./.