OFFICIAL TELEGRAM

ON INTENSIFIED COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL

From THE PRIME MINISTER to:

- Ministries, ministerial agencies and governmental agencies;

- People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities.

The Covid-19 pandemic is still developing complexly in the world and re-emerging in many countries during the winter with continuously increasing number of new cases. In Vietnam, during the period of the last consecutive 88 days, no new case has been detected in the community, but new cases of infection from incoming passengers to Ho Chi Minh City during quarantine have been recorded. Negligence, subjective attitude and failure to properly and sufficiently implement measures for Covid-19 prevention and control have occurred.

In order to maintain solid achievements in Covid-19 prevention and control, and protect people's health, the Prime Minister hereby requests Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies and People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities to:

1. Continue strictly implementing the strategy of tightly controlling the source of infection from outside, isolating and eradicating the pandemic thoroughly, and effectively treating domestic Covid-19 patients; heighten vigilance against the potential risk of Covid-19 outbreak, emphasize the responsibility of holders of leadership positions, remain calm in responding to all epidemic situations, and drastically, comprehensively and effectively implement the set Covid-19 prevention and control measures.

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Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces or central-affiliated cities directly direct the inspection, and urge the implementation of the set Covid-19 prevention and control measures, especially mandatory mask wearing and disinfection at places with high risk of infection; regularly organize inspection and take actions against heads of units for their failure to fulfill their responsibilities, and other violating entities in accordance with provisions of the Government’s Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP dated September 28, 2020 prescribing penalties for administrative violations in health sector.

3. Regarding the cases of Covid-19 infection in Ho Chi Minh City:

a) The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City directs the strict, strong, and rapid tracing of all F1, F2 individuals of newly detected infection cases, with the highest spirit to achieve the best results, and prevent the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

b) Failure to take measures to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 is considered a serious violation against regulations on pandemic prevention and control. The Prime Minister hereby requests the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam and the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises to direct the review of responsibilities, take actions against relevant organizations and individuals that fail to fulfill their responsibilities, and submit reports thereon to the Prime Minister. The Ministry of Health of Vietnam and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City are responsible for supervision of handling of such violation.

4. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security continue intensifying the management of borders, tightly controlling immigration activities, and thoroughly preventing illegal immigration case.

5. Continue operating flights carrying diplomats, experts, investors, skilled workers, and their relatives to Vietnam and transporting Vietnamese workers to work abroad to serve the dual goal of economic recovery; flights to Vietnam must strictly implement Covid-19 prevention and control measures as prescribed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam acts as the focal point for considering and resolving the repatriation of Vietnamese nationals from abroad to Vietnam; plays the leading role and cooperate with the Ministry of Health of Vietnam and the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam in studying and developing appropriate plans for bringing Vietnamese nationals back to Vietnam, taking into account Vietnam's capacity for reception and management of Vietnamese nationals, as well as Covid-19 prevention and control requirements; directs Vietnam’s overseas missions to consider and only allow persons who have legitimate reasons to return Vietnam (including during the Lunar New Year holiday) and send the list of people allowed to return Vietnam to the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Transport to carry out immigration and flight organization activities.

The relevant Ministries, authorities, and Provincial People's Committees urgently implement the Prime Minister's directions in Official Dispatch No. 3298/VPCP-QHQT dated November 28, 2020 regarding support for Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad; promptly handle procedures at airports to timely bring such citizens to quarantine facilities according to the plan, ensuring safety, and Covid-19 prevention and control requirements. The Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam is requested to prepare concentrated quarantine facilities.

The Ministry of Transport of Vietnam gives directions to: (1) ensure transparency and fairness in selling tickets to eligible incoming passengers, avoiding price hikes and profiteering from the sale of tickets, and strictly handling violations; (2) reduce flights carrying incoming passengers to quarantine facilities in Hanoi; (3) strictly implement quarantine measures for flight crews and attendants, ensuring fulfillment of Covid-19 prevention and control requirements.

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7. Continue suspending activities and events that involve mass gatherings if they are deemed not necessary. In case an activity or event must be organized, Covid-19 prevention and control measures such as mandatory mask wearing and disinfection, etc. must be strictly implemented in accordance with regulations.

When organizing any activities or events with the participation of persons coming from foreign countries, especially those posing high risk of Covid-19, regulatory authorities and local governments at all levels are required to obtain approval from health authorities.

8. In case community transmission of Covid-19 occurs, the social distancing measure must be imposed in high-risk areas which must be properly determined, avoiding arbitrary imposition of the social distancing measure in a large scale which shall adversely impact people's daily activities and business.

9. Continue ensuring the capacity of healthcare forces, both in terms of increased vigilance against Covid-19 and readiness to volunteer to respond to any Covid-19 situations, enhancing their capacity to provide medical examination and treatment, trace, and conduct rapid testing with the aims of ensuring, in the immediate future, the safety of important political events of Vietnam, especially the National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam directs the entire health sector to work in a manner they are ready to respond to any Covid-19 situation.

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam should promptly develop plans for cooperation with foreign countries in production or purchase of Covid-19 vaccines, research and production of Covid-19 vaccines domestically, and submit reports thereon to the Government’s Standing Committee for consideration and decision.

10. The Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities, and media agencies shall continue disseminating information on Covid-19 prevention and control, aiming to raise awareness of Covid-19 in all organizations and individuals in Vietnam; instruct people to stay vigilant against Covid-19; prevent negative, false and misleading Covid-19 related information that causes increased anxiety among the people./.

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Công điện 1699/CĐ-TTg năm 2020 về tăng cường thực hiện phòng, chống dịch bệnh COVID-19 do Thủ tướng Chính phủ ban hành