Vietnam establishes rapid response team to fight coronavirus pneumonia

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

The acute respiratory disease caused by the new strain of Corona virus (nCoV) is developing complicatedly in China. Up to now, the epidemic has spread to 30/31 provinces and cities of China and has spread to 18 countries and territories. This is a new, dangerous epidemic, capable of spreading quickly, with no vaccine or specific treatment. The World Health Organization has warned that the epidemic is at a very high level in China, high level in the region and globally. In Vietnam, 02 Chinese people have been initially identified as infected with nCoV. Our country has a long border, a large number of people traveling and trading with China, so the risk of this epidemic spreading and possibly breaking out is very high.

To proactively prevent the epidemic, the Prime Minister directed:

Ministries, branches and localities must not be subjective, not let the epidemic spread, must consider epidemic prevention and control as "fighting the enemy". All levels, branches, organizations and individuals must strictly implement the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens, the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. Ban the import of wild animals into Vietnam. Mobilize the entire political system to participate in epidemic prevention and control to protect people's health and lives, and minimize deaths caused by this epidemic.

1. The Ministry of Health is responsible for:

- Continue to direct and guide localities and units to strictly monitor, detect early cases of infection, thoroughly isolate, and monitor cases that have come into contact with suspected infected people, direct provinces with border gates, roads, waterways, and international airports to closely monitor passengers entering the country from epidemic areas, manage cases, prevent and control infections at medical facilities, and prevent cases of patients and medical staff from being infected with this disease.

- The Ministry of Health has activated provincial-level medical facilities for epidemic prevention and control; 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 requested. It is now continuing to perfect the plan to be ready to respond when necessary. Strictly direct the implementation of disinfection and detoxification at border gates (air, road, and waterway).

- Timely inform about the epidemic situation, give recommendations on disease prevention measures appropriate to the epidemic situation.

- Have a response scenario for each epidemic situation before January 30, 2020; ensure the availability of medicines and equipment for epidemic prevention and control. Be ready to respond to epidemic situations; have instructions and directions for treatment procedures and regimens to minimize deaths.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and local medical units to organize quarantine and manage workers and 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, direct travel companies to cancel tours and travel packages, not organize tourist groups to provinces and cities with epidemics, infected people, and not welcome tourists from epidemic areas to Vietnam.

- Closely manage and monitor the schedules, health status and recommend travel restrictions for Chinese tourists currently in Vietnam.

- Direct units to coordinate with local medical facilities to quarantine and manage tourists when suspected or infected cases 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 the border gate.

- Ensure security for mandatory medical isolation of infected and suspected cases; share information about incoming passengers with the health sector.

- Organize verification and strictly handle cases of spreading false information about the epidemic situation, causing panic in the community.

4. The Ministry of National Defense 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.

- Direct the ban on people passing through trails and openings with China and strictly control visitors at other border gates.

- Be ready to deploy field hospitals in case of widespread epidemic.

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

5. The Ministry of Transport is responsible for:

- Temporarily suspend flights from Vietnam to epidemic areas in China and suspend all flights from epidemic areas to Vietnam. Implement disease prevention and control recommendations for passengers on means of transport; consider implementing disease prevention on flights and passenger transport vehicles.

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

6. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for:

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to determine the number of Vietnamese people in epidemic areas to protect Vietnamese citizens when necessary.

- Notify diplomatic agencies of countries in case of mandatory medical quarantine of foreign citizens infected or suspected of being infected in Vietnam.

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

- Direct relevant units to closely monitor the health of workers and employees departing from and returning from epidemic areas in China.

- Do not organize sending Vietnamese workers to epidemic areas.

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

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

- Direct media agencies to publish accurate and timely news on the epidemic situation and measures so that people can proactively prevent and fight the epidemic, not panic, and coordinate with the health sector to effectively prevent and fight the epidemic.

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

- Inform students studying abroad to proactively avoid going to epidemic areas in China and apply epidemic prevention measures themselves.

- Disseminate information on 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 Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall direct their Departments, Committees, branches and localities to resolutely prepare to respond to epidemic prevention and control situations, minimizing deaths; ensure adequate provision of means, materials, medicines, equipment and funding for epidemic prevention and control activities; and be responsible to the Prime Minister for epidemic prevention and control work in the locality.

12. 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 conduct propaganda and mobilize to raise awareness and responsibility of the whole society for the work of preventing and fighting this epidemic.

13. In the current period, the Prime Minister appointed Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam as Head of the Steering Committee for epidemic prevention and control; in the immediate future, 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 resolve urgent issues of epidemic prevention and control.

14. The Ministry of Health presides over and coordinates with the Government Office to submit to the Prime Minister a Decision to establish a National Steering Committee for nCoV epidemic prevention and control, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for inspecting and urging the implementation of this Directive, and daily reporting to the Prime Minister the results of the work of preventing and controlling this epidemic.

Illustration.