Workers install a temporary hospital in District 7, HCM City. (Photo vnexpress.net) Theworking group will be located in Ho Chi Minh City, which is the country’slargest COVID-19 hotspot, and directed by the National Steering Committee forCOVID-19 Prevention and Control.
Theworking group will be led by Deputy Minister of National Defence Vo Minh Luong.The deputy heads of the group is Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quoc Hungand Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son.
DeputyPrime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19Prevention and Control, continues to direct the working group's activities anddirectly reports to the Prime Minister.
Thedecision is part of the Government's special resolution on the prevention andcontrol of the COVID-19 pandemic.
TheGovernment believes that the pandemic is spreading rapidly in many localitiesacross the country, especially in HCM City. Therefore, the Prime Minister hasagreed to apply social distancing according to Directive No 16 in 19southern provinces and cities to soon prevent and reverse the pandemic.
TheGovernment reckons that the following disciplines in pandemic prevention andcontrol measures by some State agencies and some people have not been strictlyenough. Goods transportation and circulation activities between localities thathave distanced themselves from others are still limited.
Thesupply of goods, especially food and essential necessities for people inlocalities, where the social distancing order is implemented, is still notsufficient. Ministries, branches and localities are not working closely enough.Some localities have not yet met the requirements of the local pandemicprevention and control capacity.
Basedon this information, the Government, the National Steering Committee forCOVID-19 Prevention and Control, ministries and branches have reiterated theirinstruction and monitoring requirements forcefully in HCM City and severalsouthern provinces.
TheGovernment is also calling for people to be disciplined and encouraged peopleto make themselves aware of how to be compliant with pandemic prevention andcontrol measures under Directive 16.
TheGovernment's resolution also assigns the Health Minister to assume the mainresponsibility for coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry ofPlanning and Investment and other relevant agencies to create a list of goodsto be procured including general supplies and medical equipment.
TheGovernment emphasises that the timely and effective investment and procurementof biological products, supplies and equipment is an important and urgent taskin the current pandemic prevention and control.
TheGovernment requires ministries, branches and localities, especially those thatare implementing social distancing under Directive 16, to tighten disciplineand raise awareness among people in not gathering in large crowds, limittravelling, not leaving the house unless it is absolutely necessary.
“Theimplementation of social distancing requirements under the Prime Minister'sDirective is both the responsibility, obligation and right of each citizen.Violations must be strictly handled,” the Resolution says.
TheGovernment also requested relevant agencies to focus and prioritise resourcesfor pandemic prevention and control activities in HCM City and provinces andcities that are implementing social distancing.
Inorder to carry out the work effectively, the Government has clearly assignedspecific responsibilities to each minister.
Inparticular, the Health Minister is responsible for preparing a scenario so asnot to be passive, and to carefully prepare response plans for each level ofthe possible pandemic situation, ensuring no shortage of hospitals or medicalequipment, especially oxygen and ventilators.
TheMinister of Health should also provide written instructions on theimplementation of shortening the period of quarantine for people entering the countrywho have received a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. They should urgentlyissue guidelines on the classification of cases F0, F1, F2 for appropriate,scientific, close and effective management measures./.
VNA
