Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued a directive to implement the peak period of fighting the Covid-19 epidemic.

On March 27, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued Directive No. 15/CT-TTg on implementing the peak period of Covid-19 prevention and control.

The content of the Directive clearly states,In March 2020, the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic continued to be widely deployed with the participation of the entire political system, sectors, levels and the entire population. We have been containing and controlling the epidemic, which has been highly appreciated by the international community, and the people have agreed with and trusted the leadership of the Party and State.

However, the epidemic continues to develop in a complex and unpredictable manner globally, with the number of infected and dead increasing rapidly and showing no signs of stopping. In our country, there were only 16 cases in February, but within just 20 days (from March 6 to 26), there were 137 new cases in 23 provinces and cities, 8.5 times higher than the previous number of cases, bringing the total number of cases to 153; there has been an infection among medical staff, and community infection, especially in some large cities, causing anxiety among the people. Our country has entered a crucial peak phase in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic.

To effectively contain and control the spread, proactively prevent and respond to the epidemic nationwide, and best protect people's health and lives, the Prime Minister requests:

1. All levels, sectors, localities and the entire people continue to thoroughly grasp the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy", accepting economic losses to prevent and fight the epidemic; best protecting the health and lives of the people is the ultimate goal, with greater determination, greater efforts and endeavors in implementing solutions and tasks of epidemic prevention and control in accordance with the direction of the Politburo, the Central Secretariat, the Government and the Prime Minister; strengthening discipline and order, absolutely not being negligent or subjective, speeding up the implementation of measures to detect early sources of infection, timely isolation, quick containment and thorough epidemic suppression.

2. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directs the application of measures to restrict mass gatherings from 0:00 on March 28 to the end of April 15, 2020:

a) Stop meetings and events with more than 20 people in one room; do not gather in groups of 10 or more outside of offices, schools, and hospitals; require a minimum distance of 2 meters between people in public places.

b) Completely stop religious ceremonies and activities with gatherings of 20 or more people at religious, belief, and worship establishments; stop all cultural, sports, and entertainment activities at public places.

c) Temporarily suspend the operations of service businesses in the area, except for businesses selling essential goods and services. The Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city decides which business and service establishments need to close.

d) Restricting people's movement, especially from provinces and cities with epidemics to other localities. The Ministry of Transport directs to limit flights and passenger transport activities from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to other places nationwide. Temporarily suspending or reorganizing public transport activities to limit travel and large gatherings, except for freight vehicles.

The Prime Minister and competent authorities will review, handle responsibilities, and strictly discipline local government leaders who allow large gatherings to occur.

At the quarantine area of ​​Group 40 Cua Hoi under the Political Department of Military Region 4, there are currently 418 Vietnamese citizens from Thailand and Laos being quarantined here.

3. Ministries: Health, National Defense, Public Security, People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities:

a) Urgently review and request medical declaration, health status update, and screening for cases that have entered Vietnam since March 8, 2020 and are not subject to centralized quarantine to apply appropriate quarantine and monitoring measures.

Authorities at all levels, especially at the grassroots level, local police, commune police, local youth volunteers, residential groups, villages, etc., must strengthen the supervision of cases of home quarantine, minimize communication between subjects recommended for medical quarantine; and enforce medical quarantine for cases that resist quarantine according to regulations.

b) Continue to strictly control all entry cases on land borders (especially the borders with Laos and Cambodia), waterways, sea routes, and airports. Strengthen capacity in terms of human resources and facilities to ensure centralized quarantine for all entry cases; focus on ensuring the safety of immigration management forces, working at border gates, centralized quarantine areas and other civil quarantine facilities. Have a plan to reasonably regulate the reception, classification and screening of entrants to ensure that centralized quarantine facilities on land borders are not overloaded.

c) The Ministry of Health directs the classification and classification of medical examination and treatment routes to meet the medical examination and treatment needs of the people; has plans to provide better care and best protect the safety of doctors and medical staff, especially at hospitals treating people with Covid-19; and supports supplies and equipment for provinces bordering Laos and Cambodia.

d) The National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control continues to direct ministries, branches and localities to fully prepare human resources, equipment, medicines, medical supplies and epidemic prevention and control plans, including mobilizing facilities of organizations and enterprises, ensuring readiness to respond to large-scale epidemics; develop a plan to apply a state of emergency regarding the epidemic, and report to the Prime Minister before March 28, 2020.

Provinces and cities have increased investment in expanding testing. Large cities have increased testing capacity and implemented early testing strategies for isolation.

4. The Ministries of Public Security, Health, Information and Communications, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall strictly handle, including handling according to criminal law, cases of reporting false information, failing to declare health, making dishonest health declarations; evading, opposing, or not complying with medical isolation measures; hoarding goods, increasing prices, and causing market instability in accordance with the provisions of law.

Military, police and militia forces stay on duty all night to ensure the safety of the quarantine area. Photo: Le Thang

5. The Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Health continue to provide timely, complete, public, and transparent information on the epidemic's developments; focus on information on not gathering in large crowds, encourage and guide voluntary health declaration, early detection, and notification to the authorities of suspected cases.

6. All levels and sectors actively innovate and improve working methods to adapt to the context of epidemic prevention and control. Strengthen the application of information technology and online activities in directing, operating, working, studying, and performing administrative procedures; guide and encourage people to increase the use of online public services and perform administrative procedures online.

7. The Prime Minister requests that people remain calm, reassured, continue to trust and support epidemic prevention and control measures. Each citizen should be a soldier in epidemic prevention and control; continue to join hands and unite to repel the epidemic. In the immediate future, strictly implement measures to avoid large gatherings; only leave the house when absolutely necessary, wash hands regularly, wear masks in public places, strengthen self-protection; limit visits to medical examination and treatment facilities except in cases of absolute necessity and strictly follow the recommendations of competent authorities, especially for the elderly and those with underlying diseases.

8. The Government requests the Vietnam Fatherland Front and organizations and unions to strengthen coordination with authorities at all levels to mobilize people to voluntarily comply with disease prevention and control measures; continue to mobilize organizations, businesses and people to support resources for disease prevention and control work.

Propose that the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union direct the continued promotion of the vanguard and volunteer role, actively supporting authorities at all levels and people in implementing epidemic prevention and control measures.

9. Along with drastic measures to prevent and control the epidemic, all levels and sectors need to focus on implementing specific and effective solutions to promptly remove difficulties for production and business, ensuring social security.