Vietnam localises COVID-19-hit areas in all-out effort to contain virus spread

January 29, 2021 | 08:30

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Vietnam has localised the COVID-19-hit areas after the return of the pandemic in late January 27, with 84 new infections reported in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Duong between January 27 and 18pm January 28.

vietnam localizes covid 19 hit areas in all out effort to contain virus spread

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chaired the online meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with cities and provinces on the afternoon of January 28

At the online meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with cities and provinces nationwide on the afternoon of January 28, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the committee, asked cities and provinces to strictly abide by their orders and make ready to fight COVID-19.

“The return of the pandemic was anticipated and many cases of infection can be prevented if all prevention rules are strictly complied with,” he noted. “This is the new strain, so it is spreading rapidly.”

“It is possible that there will be more new cases when the test results are released. However, we should not panic because we have localised the affected areas and taken samples for testing on a wide scale," he added.

According to the deputy prime minister, this should be a warning call for other localities. He asked cities and provinces to keep hospitals safe and ready. Health facilities should increase alertness to deal with any eventualities.

He also urged cities and provinces to strictly monitor the wearing of masks in public places and impose fines on any who do not obey.

To support Hai Duong and Quang Ninh in the fight, the Ministry of Health has dispatched task forces. Specifically, since the afternoon of January 27, the ministry had sent six units to Hai Duong.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long chaired the online meeting with the health departments and hospitals in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh in the late afternoon of January 28

After the online meeting, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long chaired another online meeting with the health departments and hospitals of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh.

Aware of the rise of the virus spreading wider in the two provinces in the upcoming days, Long ordered relevant units to establish three field hospitals in Hai Duong for on-site treatment. The minister also asked units to ensure the supply of medical devices for the hospitals.

"The Ministry of Health will make all efforts to help Hai Duong control the pandemic. Central authorities will provide maximal support for this," Long noted.

In the afternoon of January 28, the prime minister issued Direction No.05/CT-TTg on urgent measures for preventing and fighting against COVID-19.

Accordingly, the city of Chi Linh in Hai Duong is under lockdown since January 28. Social distancing is applied for 21 days from noon the same day. All schooling, entertainment activities, gatherings, and trading of unnecessary services will be halted.

Public passenger transportation from Chi Linh to the outside was also suspended, except for exceptional cases.

In Quang Ninh, the operation of the Van Don International Airport was also suspended from January 28. The Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee has the right to suspend activities and facilities which fail to abide by prevention measures, while tracing, localising, and testing on a large scale, as well as quarantining if necessary. Additionally, depending on the level of virus development risks in specific areas, blockade or social distancing measures can also be applied.

Cities and provinces are asked to take prevention measures, ask people to wear masks, limit gatherings, and apply blockade or social distancing, depending on risk levels.