Strictly implement Directive 16 but do not 'block rivers and ban markets'

On the afternoon of June 19, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control held a meeting to discuss urgent tasks on Covid-19 prevention and control. 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 chaired.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

26 CASES OF SARS-CoV-2 VIRUS INFECTION DETECTED

Reporting at the meeting, Director of the Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh said that today (June 19), the province recorded 6 cases of Covid-19 infection. Currently, the health sector is coordinating with the police to quickly investigate and trace the infected cases to organize zoning, quarantine, and take F1 test samples in a timely manner.

Regarding rapid testing for people in Vinh City, it will be implemented within a maximum of 2 days (June 19 and 20). The Health sector has mobilized about 600 staff to focus on this work, with the task of testing about 200,000 samples.

Director of the Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh quickly reported on the Covid-19 epidemic situation in the province. Photo: Pham Bang

Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee Tran Ngoc Tu said that the investigation and tracing of infections in the area, especially newly recorded cases, are being carried out vigorously. In addition, Vinh City has also prepared quarantine locations at hotels to ensure the capacity of about 800 people and is continuing to survey other quarantine locations.

On the evening of June 18, the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Vinh City developed a plan for rapid testing for people and the units are currently implementing this plan. However, up to this point, only 7/25 wards, communes and businesses have registered, with 11,000 people out of a total of 600,000 people living in Vinh City.

Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee Tran Ngoc Tu reports on the plan to deploy rapid testing for local residents. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding social distancing according to Directive 16, the Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee said that 13 checkpoints have been established at the city's entrances and exits. However, in practice, there are 4 problems with the following subjects: workers from other areas entering Vinh City to work; vehicles transporting goods into the city; workers and technicians coming to the city to work; can workers with a test certificate enter the city to work?...

At the meeting, Director of the Department of Transport Hoang Phu Hien and Head of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board Le Tien Tri also raised difficulties surrounding the implementation of Directive 16 and requested the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to promptly resolve them.

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

Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department Nguyen Thi Thu Huong said that the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control should establish an information and propaganda team to provide official information to the press in a fast, complete and accurate manner. In addition, there should be measures to pay attention to the frontline forces in epidemic prevention and control and at the control posts.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long requested that businesses arrange vehicles to pick up workers or arrange accommodation for workers when they come to Vinh City to work. In addition, it is necessary to compile a list of vehicles transporting experts, technical staff... to facilitate their entry into Vinh City to work.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the meeting. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the provision of information on cases, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Health Department to provide information at two time points per day: 7am and 7pm. The police department should implement solutions to ensure conditions for forces working at checkpoints.

NO CHARGE FOR RAPID TESTS FROM VINH CITY RESIDENTS

Concluding the meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized that we must still focus on prioritizing the handling, control, and prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic in the province, especially in Vinh City. Continue to rapidly investigate, trace, isolate, quarantine, and take samples for testing of cases, F1 and F2 subjects.

Pay special attention to the intersection of Ha Huy Tap and Pham Dinh Toai streets. This is a key area because many cases are related to here. Vinh City prioritizes organizing centralized quarantine areas and checking that F1 subjects are fully quarantined.

Regarding the implementation of testing, in addition to prioritizing the frontline forces, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that taking rapid test samples for people in Vinh city is also very important. This is something that must be done at all costs because it is related to protecting people's health and minimizing the spread of the epidemic.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung requested not to charge Vinh city residents for rapid testing. Photo: Pham Bang

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung affirmed that the province will allocate budget and mobilize social resources to support Vinh City in funding for rapid testing for people. In particular, no money will be collected from people, except those who voluntarily pay for this cost. Vinh City must develop a specific and methodical plan, according to each priority group, and strive to complete it by the night of June 20.

Regarding the implementation of Directive 16, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that this is a necessary and timely solution to control and prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from spreading widely. However, during the implementation process, there have been problems and difficulties.

Based on the opinions of the sectors, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung assigned the Department of Transport to issue specific regulations, guiding businesses and means of transport in and out of the city, ensuring strict implementation of Directive 16, but not causing congestion, not creating a scene of "blocking rivers, banning markets", paying special attention to vehicles carrying essential goods and raw materials for production and business...

For workers and laborers, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that enterprises arrange centralized vehicles and register with key groups to transport workers to the city for work. Business establishments must ensure epidemic prevention regulations for workers, not allowing epidemics to arise and spread in industrial parks.

Checkpoints strictly control people and vehicles entering and leaving Vinh City. Photo: Quang An

For those who come to/from Vinh City from other localities for work, they must be confirmed by the agency where they work and recommended to arrange work and living at the workplace. If agencies and units cannot ensure transportation conditions, food and accommodation for workers and staff, they should let workers stay at home to ensure epidemic prevention and control.

For small traders with centralized trading points, they are allowed to enter Vinh City, while small traders can concentrate their goods at the main points and limit their entry to Vinh City. For other problems arising in practice, the departments, branches and localities will continue to advise the province on solutions to resolve them promptly.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the Industry and Trade sector and the Market Management Department to pay attention to ensuring adequate supply of goods, not allowing the situation of taking advantage of the epidemic to push up prices, increase prices, and shortage of goods. Sectors and localities pay attention to frontline forces and forces on duty at checkpoints, ensuring the best working conditions. Pay attention to self-management groups in localities, how to strictly control each household, each neighborhood, and residential area.

Authorities pledge not to let shortages or price hikes happen. Photo: Thanh Phuc

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Health to take the lead in providing information related to the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic at 2 time frames: 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. every day with a timely, accurate, transparent and synchronous viewpoint. Thereby, helping the official press agencies to promptly inform and propagate to the people, helping the people to fully perceive and actively participate with Party committees and authorities at all levels in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic./.