Dong Thap utilising “blue zones” in order to control virus

Everyone in the province is working together to ensure no-one is left behind

Through taking drastic measures in COVID-19 prevention and control, the cities of Hong Ngu and Hong Ngu district in Dong Thap have not seen any coronavirus infections in the community. The Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control of the area is materialising the building of “blue zones” – areas with no COVID-19 infections – in the community which have yielded initial upbeat results.

These zones are managed by local residential groups under supervision from relevant competent bodies. The steps in building such zones include crafting a set of basic criteria on recognition of the zones and the general code of conduct for people living in them to follow; propagating and encouraging people to take part in building the zones; and taking strong measures like acceleration of screening and testing for family households to ensure no infection cases in the community, among others factors.

Le Hong Phong, Secretary of Dong Thap Party Committee, visited and worked with leaders of Hong Ngu city and Hong Ngu district in July on how to effectively realise the idea of building the zones for pandemic prevention and control.

The party chief praised the initiative and simultaneously encouraged other areas in the province to come up with smart models and methods for pandemic prevention and control that match the specific conditions of each locality.

Dong Thap People’s Committee has enacted Directive No.380/UBND-THVX, showing consensus on assigning local firm Vinh Hoan JSC to act on behalf of the provincial management to conduct transactions and sign in-principle contracts with Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC on purchase of 200,000 Nanocovax vaccine doses. The move aims to accelerate the pace of vaccination in the community, especially serving labour-intensive businesses that are based in the province.

Dong Thap People’s Committee has also urged the local Department of Health to join efforts and guide Vinh Hoan on the preservation, distribution, and use of COVID-19 vaccines following the Ministry of Health’s regulations.

Based on the demand for Nanocovax vaccines of businesses and organisations in the provsince, Vinh Hoan would make suitable adjustments on the volume of doses and place orders with the vaccine supplier, Nanogen.

Pham Thien Nghia, Chairman of Dong Thap People’s Committee, noted that in order to ensure effective enforcement of the government’s directive on strict measures for pandemic prevention and control, Dong Thap has mandated the sectors and local areas to efficiently implement Directive No.06-CT/TU of Dong Thap Party Committee on strengthening measures for pandemic prevention and control as well as guidance from the local People’s Committee.

The head of Dong Thap Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control has also required local authorised agencies to push up communications, building up people’s trust in the Party and the state policies and orientations for success in the fight against the coronavirus.

Nghia added that it is also important to let people access their fields, as well as support consumption of several agricultural products that are in harvest season such as longan, mango, and jackfruit. This goes along with pushing up vaccination speed and payment of allowances to policy beneficiaries in the spirit of government Resolution No.68/NQ-CP dated July on assistance for people affected by the pandemic.