Vietnam establishes a rapid response team to combat the coronavirus pneumonia outbreak.

The following is the full text of the Prime Minister's Directive:

The acute respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (nCoV) is developing rapidly in China. To date, the disease has spread to 30 out of 31 provinces and cities in China and to 18 countries and territories. This is a new, dangerous disease with the potential for rapid spread, and there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment. The World Health Organization has issued a warning that the outbreak is at a very high level in China, and at a high level regionally and globally. In Vietnam, two Chinese nationals have been initially confirmed to be infected with nCoV. Vietnam shares a long border with China, and there is a high volume of cross-border traffic and trade, therefore the risk of this disease spreading and potentially breaking out is very high.

To proactively prevent and control the epidemic, the Prime Minister has issued the following directive:

Ministries, sectors, and localities must not be complacent and must prevent the spread of the disease, treating disease prevention and control as a "fight against an enemy." All levels, sectors, organizations, and individuals must strictly implement the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens, the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, and the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. The import of wild animals into Vietnam is prohibited. The entire political system must be mobilized to participate in disease prevention and control to protect the health and lives of the people and minimize deaths caused by this disease.

1. The Ministry of Health is responsible for:

- Continue to direct and guide localities and units to strictly implement the monitoring and early detection of infection cases, thorough isolation, and monitoring of cases that have had contact with suspected infected individuals. Direct provinces with border gates, land routes, waterways, and international airports to closely monitor incoming passengers, especially those traveling from epidemic areas, manage cases, and prevent and control infections at medical facilities, ensuring that no patients or medical staff are infected with this disease.

- The Ministry of Health has activated provincial-level epidemic prevention and control facilities; central-level hospitals; hospitals under the Public Security and Military sectors; and military field hospitals to proactively respond and be ready to receive patients when needed. They are now further refining plans to ensure readiness for future response. Strict disinfection and decontamination measures are being implemented at all border crossings (air, land, and sea).

- Providing timely information on the evolving epidemic situation and offering recommendations on appropriate preventive measures based on the current situation.

- Prepare response plans for each epidemic situation before January 30, 2020; ensure sufficient supplies of medicines and equipment for epidemic prevention and control. Be ready to respond to epidemic situations; provide guidance and direction on treatment procedures and protocols, minimizing fatalities.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and local health units to organize isolation and management of workers when cases of infection or suspected infection are detected.

2. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is responsible for:

- Closely monitor the nCoV epidemic situation, instruct tourism companies to cancel tours and travel packages, not organize tourist groups to provinces and cities with outbreaks or infected people, and not welcome tourists from areas with outbreaks to Vietnam.

- Closely manage and monitor the schedules and health status of Chinese tourists currently in Vietnam, and recommend restricting their movement.

- Directing units to coordinate with local health facilities to organize isolation and management of tourists when suspected or confirmed cases of illness are detected.

3. The Ministry of Public Security is responsible for:

- Coordinate with the health sector to strictly monitor and control the epidemic right at border crossings.

- Ensuring security for mandatory medical quarantine of confirmed and suspected cases; sharing information about incoming passengers with the health sector.

- Authorities will verify and strictly handle cases of spreading false information about the epidemic situation, causing panic in the community.

4. The Ministry of Defence is responsible for:

- Coordinate with the health sector to strictly monitor and control the epidemic at border gates, and share information about incoming passengers with the health sector.

- Directing the prohibition of movement at trails and unofficial crossings with China, and strictly controlling the movement of people at other border crossings.

- Be prepared to deploy field hospitals in case the outbreak spreads.

- Directing the implementation of epidemic prevention and control activities in military units.

5. The Ministry of Transport is responsible for:

- Temporarily suspend the issuance of permits for flights from Vietnam to areas affected by the epidemic in China and suspend all flights from affected areas to Vietnam. Implement effective epidemic prevention and control recommendations for passengers on all modes of transport; consider implementing preventive measures on flights and passenger transport vehicles.

- It is recommended to limit flights to and from areas in China experiencing outbreaks.

6. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for:

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to determine the number of Vietnamese citizens in areas affected by the epidemic in order to provide consular protection for Vietnamese citizens when needed.

- Inform the diplomatic missions of other countries in cases where mandatory medical quarantine is required for foreign citizens who are sick or suspected of being sick in Vietnam.

7. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is responsible for:

- Instruct relevant units to closely monitor the health status of workers who have traveled to or returned from areas in China experiencing outbreaks.

- No organizations will send Vietnamese workers to areas currently experiencing outbreaks of the disease.

8. The Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for:

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Health and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to disseminate information on disease prevention and control.

- Direct media agencies to publish accurate and timely news reports on the epidemic situation and measures for people to proactively prevent and control the epidemic, avoiding panic and anxiety, and cooperating with the health sector to effectively combat the epidemic.

9. The Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for:

- Inform students studying abroad to proactively avoid areas in China experiencing outbreaks and to take appropriate measures to prevent and control the spread of the disease.

- Disseminate information about the epidemic situation and epidemic prevention and control measures to students nationwide; be responsible for participating in epidemic prevention and control activities when requested by the health sector.

10. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for ensuring sufficient funding for epidemic prevention and control when necessary.

11. The Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall direct departments, agencies, and localities to be resolute in responding to epidemic prevention and control situations, minimizing fatalities; ensuring sufficient provision of means, supplies, medicines, equipment, and funding for epidemic prevention and control activities; and shall be responsible to the Prime Minister for epidemic prevention and control work in their respective areas.

12. We propose that the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front direct its member organizations to actively and proactively coordinate with the health sector and authorities at all levels to carry out propaganda and mobilization to raise awareness and responsibility of the entire society regarding the prevention and control of this disease.

13. Currently, the Prime Minister has appointed Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam as the Head of the Steering Committee for epidemic prevention and control; initially, a rapid response team will be established, with members representing the leaders of the Ministries of Health, Public Security, National Defense, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, Culture, Sports and Tourism to promptly address urgent issues in epidemic prevention and control.

14. The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Government Office, submitted to the Prime Minister a Decision to establish the National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of the nCoV Epidemic, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for inspecting and monitoring the implementation of this Directive, and for reporting daily to the Prime Minister on the results of the disease prevention and control efforts.

Illustration.