Instructions for implementing Directive 16/CT-TTg on social distancing

Prime Minister: Strictly implement social distancing according to the requirements of Directive No. 16/CT-TTg. Photo: VGP

On March 31, 2020, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 16/CT-TTg on urgent measures to prevent and combat the Covid-19 epidemic. Sectors, levels and localities have seriously implemented the Prime Minister's instructions. However, some contents of the Directive have not been understood and implemented uniformly.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested:

1. Strictly implement social isolation according to the requirements of Directive No. 16/CT-TTg, ensure social distancing, keep distance between people and people, between communities. In order to minimize the risk of community infection, people are required to stay at home, limit going out as much as possible, except in cases of absolute necessity:

a) Purchase of food, pharmaceuticals and other essential goods and services;

b) Emergencies such as: emergency, medical examination and treatment; natural disasters, fires, etc.

c) Working at state agencies, units, armed forces, diplomatic agencies and at facilities mentioned in Section 2 of this document.

When leaving the house, you must wear a mask, wash your hands with soap or antiseptic solution; do not gather in groups of more than 2 people in public places, outside of offices, schools, hospitals and must keep a minimum distance of 2m.

2. Factories, production facilities; traffic and construction works; essential goods and service businesses (such as: food, food, pharmaceuticals; gasoline, oil; electricity; water; fuel, etc.); educational institutions, banks, treasuries, service businesses directly related to banking activities and supporting businesses (such as notaries, lawyers, vehicle inspection, registration of secured transactions, etc.), securities, postal services, telecommunications, transportation support services, export and import of goods, medical examination and treatment, funerals, etc. are allowed to continue operating. The heads of the above-mentioned establishments are responsible for ensuring absolute safety and fully implementing anti-epidemic measures, including the following measures:

a) Strictly wear masks, fully arrange means and materials for epidemic prevention and control according to regulations and recommendations of health authorities;

b) Require employees to make medical declarations and comply with measures to limit movement, contact, and communication;

c) Temporarily suspend non-urgent activities and reduce the level of concentration of workers;

d) Organize and strictly manage the transportation of workers (if any) to the workplace to ensure prevention of disease transmission risks.

In case the above requirements are not met, operations must be stopped. Local health authorities shall guide, inspect and supervise epidemic prevention and control at the above facilities.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee decides and publicly announces the types of production, business establishments and construction works that must temporarily suspend operations.

3. Basically stop public passenger transport, except for cases of official business, vehicles picking up and dropping off workers, experts, people in quarantine, vehicles transporting raw materials, production materials, and goods. Minimize the operation of personal vehicles.

Ensure smooth operation of the transportation of goods, raw materials and production materials. Localities must immediately abolish measures to stop and prohibit people and vehicles from passing through their localities that are not in accordance with Directive No. 16/CT-TTg.

4. Heads of agencies, units, organizations and enterprises are responsible for organizing work from home in accordance with their specific conditions, not allowing work to stagnate, especially work with deadlines and statutes of limitations as prescribed by law, and public services serving people and businesses.

5. Relevant ministries, agencies and localities shall proactively adjust disease prevention and control measures to ensure compliance with the above contents; coordinate and resolve arising issues within their authority; strictly handle violations; promptly report to the Prime Minister on arising problems./.