The Prime Minister agreed to continue implementing Directive 16 at least until April 22 in some localities.

The Prime Minister speaks at the meeting. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

In his opening speech, the Prime Minister said that this was a difficult decision. Currently, there are some opinions in public about continuing to extend social distancing for a while longer, and there are also opinions waiting for Directive 16 to be "defused" so that business can continue.

Informing that he had listened to the media and the opinions of the expert group, the Prime Minister asked the delegates to focus on discussing the time and method to bring production and business activities and people's lives back to normal "when and how" and classifying 3 groups of localities, requiring which localities to strictly isolate, which sectors will be opened, and under what conditions.

Emphasizing the need to develop policies, measures, and roadmaps, the Prime Minister said that calmness and strictness are extremely important at this time. We must not make mistakes that will allow the epidemic to return to our country. Every opinion must be calculated and considered.

According to the report of the National Steering Committee, from April 1 to 14, 2020, Vietnam recorded 59 new cases (only 40% compared to the previous 2 weeks), including 30 cases in quarantine areas and 29 cases in the community (accounting for nearly 50% of the total number of cases).

In the past 14 days since the implementation of Prime Minister's Directive No. 16 on social distancing, the first 3 days (from April 1-3) recorded 30 new cases, after that only recorded the number of new cases in the range of 1-5 cases per day.

Notably, a new outbreak was recorded in Ha Loi village, Me Linh, Hanoi with 12 cases (2 cases were detected in the isolated area in Ha Loi village). It is forecasted that in the coming days, there may be more new cases in the community, especially in some high-risk provinces, in urban areas with high population density.

Regarding public opinion trends, there are mainly 3 groups of opinions: (1) Affirming that implementing social distancing in the past time is necessary and has been highly effective in epidemic prevention work; (2) implementing isolation in the past time has received high consensus from all classes of people; (3) in the coming time, it is recommended to continue implementing social distancing but consider adjusting it to a level appropriate to the characteristics of the situation in each locality and the requirements of epidemic prevention work to ensure good implementation of both tasks of epidemic prevention and control and socio-economic development.

The Steering Committee agreed to classify localities into 3 groups: high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk groups to have appropriate epidemic prevention measures accordingly.

There are four major activities that are different between the three groups: Leaving home according to required levels; opening non-essential stores according to levels; using public transport; and gathering in large numbers.

At the meeting, the Steering Committee's recommendations were discussed by the Government Standing Committee.

After nearly 3 hours of listening to opinions and concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his sincere thanks to all people for overcoming difficulties, supporting and strictly implementing the policy of social isolation; commending the kind hearts, good people and good deeds in epidemic prevention; highly appreciating the contributions of scientists, philanthropists as well as all levels, sectors, localities, and types of enterprises in epidemic prevention as well as ensuring production and business to achieve growth in the first quarter.

Despite certain achievements, the pandemic is still raging around the world, with the number of infections and deaths increasing; there is a potential risk of infection spreading in society in the country. The Prime Minister stated that we must not be lax, subjective, negligent, or lose vigilance.

Emphasizing the spirit of “fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy”, the Prime Minister clearly stated the goal of best protecting the health and lives of the people. If we do anything careless or passive, it will erase the great achievements of the Party, State and people in the past time.

However, it is also necessary to take appropriate and cautious measures to gradually bring life back to normal. The Prime Minister stated that there will be a new Directive to implement specific policies and measures.

An effective and sustainable epidemic prevention and control strategy is based on maintaining the continuity of economic activities at a certain level, preparing to restart the economy on the basis of successful epidemic prevention.

Consistently implementing the proposed strategies of prevention, rapid detection, isolation, localization, thorough epidemic suppression and effective treatment with the overarching goal of containing and controlling the infection rate at the lowest level, limiting deaths, and minimizing socio-economic impacts.

In the direction, it is necessary to gradually reduce social distancing measures in a cautious and synchronous manner, with steps appropriate to the circumstances of each province, city, and locality, to both effectively prevent the epidemic and develop the economy and society.

Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

In that spirit, the Prime Minister agreed with the National Steering Committee's proposal to classify epidemic risks among localities based on a number of criteria such as epidemiological analysis, current epidemic situation, response capacity, population characteristics, traffic, many foreigners coming, many cases of infection, etc.

Agree on the classification into 3 groups: High risk group, Risk group and Low risk group. These groups are not static. The next meeting will review these groups and adjust accordingly.

The high-risk group includes 12 localities: Hanoi, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Ha Tinh.

The Prime Minister stated that the 10 provinces, cities and 2 central urban areas mentioned above will continue to implement Directive 16 until April 22 or April 30, depending on the specific situation of Covid-19 infection in the community. It is also possible that in the next meeting, some localities will be added to this group if an infection situation occurs.

Although this group is at high risk, it also needs to pay attention to production, infrastructure construction, and facilitating the circulation of goods and traffic.

With the risk group including 15 localities: Binh Duong, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Ha Nam, Hai Phong, Kien Giang, Nam Dinh,Nghe An, Thai Nguyen, Thua Thien-Hue, Soc Trang, Lang Son, An Giang, Binh Phuoc, Dong Thap, combine to implement Directive 15 and Directive 16 well until April 22. The next decision will be made on April 22 depending on the epidemic situation.

The low-risk group including the remaining 36 localities continues to implement Prime Minister's Directive 15 well.

The Prime Minister assigned the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to specifically decide on the implementation of social distancing and specific measures to be applied in their localities in an appropriate and serious manner according to each level.

The Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities will decide specifically which service businesses need to close; be responsible for closely monitoring projects, construction sites, production and business establishments and request to stop production and business if the establishments do not ensure Covid-19 infection prevention.

Thus, local leaders will decide to close unnecessary businesses, including those in high-risk and low-risk groups.

Heads of local Party committees and authorities will decide, based on practical situations, whether to extend the implementation of Directive 16, "if they see that it is necessary to strongly apply this matter."

Social distancing can be implemented at the commune and district levels, depending on the risk of infection in the area.

The Prime Minister requested that relevant agencies strictly handle violations of epidemic prevention regulations.

Continue to extend the current immigration control policy until April 30. Consider allowing overseas Vietnamese who have urgent needs and are in especially difficult circumstances to return home. Maintain mandatory centralized quarantine for people entering Vietnam from abroad.

Continue to promote online activities: Online learning, online payment...; encourage staff to work from home. Ministers, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and heads of state agencies shall make specific decisions on this to ensure smooth, quality and on-schedule work, especially work with deadlines.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense to ensure security and order during the implementation of Directives 15 and 16, avoid racing and large gatherings, not allow any opposing groups to cause trouble, and strictly handle violations to serve as deterrence.

The Ministry of Health guides and supports the establishment of 63 rapid response teams for 63 provinces and cities to enable more timely response.

The Ministry of Education and Training proposes a study plan for students nationwide and an examination plan, and reports to the Government Standing Committee in the spirit of ensuring student safety.

Press and media agencies need to continue to disseminate and guide people with knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their families, fully reflecting the picture of the whole life, avoiding reporting that causes subjectivity among the people, because we still have many difficulties ahead, including fighting the epidemic and developing the economy and society.

The Prime Minister requested the immediate implementation of the social security package with the spirit of firefighting relief. There can be no further delay because workers are facing great difficulties. The support should not be prolonged because of procedures.

The Ministry of Health shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office to draft a new directive to submit to the Prime Minister in the above spirit.