The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested Vinh City residents not to go out, 'stay where you are' from 0:00 on August 23.

On the afternoon of August 22, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control met to listen to and give opinions on Covid-19 prevention and control work in the past time and deploy tasks and solutions in the coming time, especially in Vinh City.

Comrades: Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control; Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control co-chaired the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

COVID-19 EPIDEMIC IN VINH CITY IS COMPLICATED

Opening the meeting, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control informed that as of 8:00 a.m. on August 22, the province had recorded 876 infections in 21 localities..Since August 14, there have been 408 cases of infection, including 189 cases of community infection, with Vinh City alone having 71 cases of community infection.

“The current epidemic situation is very complicated, especially in Vinh City. Therefore, today's meeting will focus more time on discussing stronger measures for Vinh City to quickly control and contain the epidemic,” the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized.

Reporting at the meeting, Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee Tran Ngoc Tu said that the epidemic situation in the city is very complicated and in the coming time, there will be new and different developments, the speed of spread will be faster, including many cases in the community. The situation of infection among family members is very high.

Comrade Tran Ngoc Tu - Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee reported on epidemic prevention and control work and proposed solutions for the coming time. Photo: Pham Bang

Based on that reality, the Head of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of Vinh City proposed to quarantine the entire city for 7 days. The purpose is to conduct free testing for 500,000 people; separate F0 from the community; establish green zones. Vinh City will ensure social security, promptly support those in difficult circumstances, and organize the timely and adequate supply of goods to the people.

In addition, the city will mobilize trucks and taxis to transport goods and emergency personnel to hospitals during the quarantine period. Contracts will be signed with businesses to provide enough necessities for people during the quarantine period. At the same time, the province has proposed to support additional forces to ensure stability in Vinh City.

Comrade Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control spoke at the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

Comrade Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health agreed that the epidemic situation in Vinh city is complicated and the risk level is very high. However, the head of the provincial health sector also said that medical isolation of the entire city will be very difficult and suggested that the city apply enhanced and additional measures when implementing Directive 16, which will be applied from 0:00 on August 23 and last for 7 days.

Specifically, people are not allowed to leave their homes with the view: "stay where you are"; no one is allowed to move into the city (except for the force on duty to prevent and fight the epidemic). People going to agencies and offices to work must not exceed 10%. During this time, rapid pooled samples will be taken for testing for 500,000 people in the area to detect and separate F0 from the community. The Department of Health will mobilize about 1,000 medical staff to support the city in taking samples for 4 days, starting from 8:00 a.m. on August 24.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department spoke at the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

At the meeting, members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control analyzed the epidemic situation in the area and gave opinions on enhanced measures to prevent and control the epidemic in Vinh City. Especially the issue of supplying necessities to people if enhanced measures are applied.

Major General Pham The Tung - Director of the Provincial Police Department said that in the coming time, the police force will strengthen the organization of checkpoints in the city. Specifically, in addition to maintaining 43 checkpoints, 70 more checkpoints will be established, with 630 officers and soldiers participating to strictly control people entering and leaving the city as well as control the movement of people in the inner city.

VINH CITY RESIDENTS "Stay where you are"

Concluding the meeting, Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that during this time of fighting the epidemic, we must sit together to discuss, to organize to do better, to do more effectively for the common responsibility, for the safety of the community, for the safety of the people, learn from the experiences of localities, from the existing problems and limitations in the past time.

Emphasizing the importance of Vinh City to the province, based on the developments of the epidemic and the opinions of the members, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung agreed to increase social isolation measures for Vinh City to a higher level than Directive 16. The spirit is to require people not to leave their homes, resolutely requesting: "whoever is where stays there". The immediate implementation period is 7 days, starting from 0:00 on August 23.

“This measure is to protect people's health and lives in the face of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic. The number 1 priority is screening tests to separate F0 from the community. Vinh City follows the guidance of the health sector, ensuring safety, strictness, speed and efficiency. In particular, priority is given to areas with very high risk and high risk for 100% of the people in the area; for areas with risk and no risk, pooled samples are tested. Free for people and Vinh City uses the budget at the maximum level, the province will consider supporting when the city encounters difficulties", the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control concluded the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

After testing, conduct tracing, classify F1, F2 and conduct centralized isolation for F1. If necessary, mobilize, persuade, and requisition points for centralized isolation areas. During the isolation process, strict measures must be ensured both inside and outside. Organize centralized treatment for F0 cases and have an active coordination mechanism to organize the transportation of F0 cases to treatment facilities in the fastest time. During this time, effective vaccination measures must be taken, even during the application of a higher level than Directive 16.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that during the implementation of measures one level higher than Directive 16, Vinh City must ensure the provision of adequate food, goods, and essential necessities to people's homes, without breaking the supply chain. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned Vinh City to coordinate with the Department of Industry and Trade to perform this task well. Organize forces to carry out the work of supplying these goods. The Provincial Military Command directed the Vinh City Military Command to arrange forces to support Vinh City.

In particular, Vinh City must pay attention to people in difficult circumstances, poor families, families with meritorious services, and vulnerable people in society. In these cases, the government must provide free care. Organize plans to ensure medical care, medicine, etc. so that people can rest assured not to leave their homes.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested the Department of Health to advise the Provincial People's Committee to clearly define the activities that are allowed to operate during this time, but must give the highest priority to epidemic prevention and control. In particular, the police, military and forces providing goods to the people must be fully ensured. Other forces must limit their gathering at public offices, the number must not exceed 20%. Industries that, due to the nature of their work, require more than 20% of the number must report to the Provincial People's Committee for permission, but not more than 50%.

Work arrangements at production and business establishments must also be limited to the maximum. Establishments that ensure “3 on-site” working conditions are allowed to operate, but travel is limited. Production establishments that cannot stop operations due to their specific nature must report to Vinh City for consideration and decision.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested Vinh City residents to stay where they are and not leave their homes from 0:00 on August 23. Photo: Duc Anh

During the implementation of the enhanced measures of Directive 16, security and social safety must be ensured. The provincial police will organize additional checkpoints, increase patrols, and strictly handle violations. The heads of agencies and units are responsible for arranging the number of people working at the headquarters.

Regarding propaganda work, the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department directed press agencies to strengthen propaganda and mobilization so that people can be aware, share, accompany and support the Party Committee and government and strictly comply with measures at a higher level than Directive 16. Propaganda work must be done so that people do not worry, do not panic and feel secure not to leave their homes.

"The measures we take may cause difficulties for the people, but the ultimate goal is to ensure the health and lives of the people, so we believe that the people will support us. Those who deliberately oppose us, spread false information, incite us, etc. must be strictly handled," said the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

All levels and sectors of Vinh City, with the highest sense of responsibility, closely coordinate with other sectors to effectively implement measures to quickly control and contain the epidemic. In addition, sectors and localities across the province must continue to implement epidemic prevention measures according to the direction of the Central Government and the province in the past time with a serious, drastic and effective spirit./.