With new nationwide social distancing regulations to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic coming into force today, life as we know it has changed across the country. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 31 issued a strict order on social distancing, starting April 1. Specifically, Directive 16/CT-TTg by the Prime Minister includes a range of stringent social distancing measures, including restricting people from leaving their homes and banning gatherings of more than two people in public. On the first days of implementing the directive, Hanoi’s streets are much more deserted than usual. In photo: Children’s playgrounds in Kim Van Kim Lu urban area in Hoang Mai district, Hanoi are empty on these days. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
Under the directive, the PM ordered a 15-day period of nationwide social distancing starting 00:00 on April 1, with the principle of every household, village, commune, district and province going into self-isolation. The directive is an attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus. Accordingly, only factories, businesses and service establishments producing and providing essential goods and services are allowed to remain open. People are still required to wear masks and keep a distance of at least two metres when visiting these places and follow other instructions by the Ministry of Health on hygiene and disinfection. In photo: Mrs. Loan, a local Hanoian, makes phone calls to neighbours to see if they need help during social distancing. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
According to the Prime Minister’s Directive, only factories, businesses and service establishments producing and providing essential goods and services are allowed to remain open. The new rules will last until at least April 15. Non-essential businesses like restaurants, bars and gyms, and other gathering places have also shuttered in an attempt to contain the spread of the respiratory disease caused by novel coronavirus. Social distancing, if followed strictly, is expected to dramatically slow the rate at which the infection spreads and that will greatly ease the burden on the health care system. In photo: Street vendors and restaurants close in response to the Prime Minister’s social distancing order. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
The Prime Minister’s newly issued Directive No. 16/CT-TTg is to prevent and combat COVID-19. Under the directive, the PM ordered a 15-day period of nationwide social distancing starting 00:00 on April 1, with the principle of every household, village, commune, district and province going into self-isolation. According to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, social distancing does not mean introducing a lockdown or closing traffic. At the same time, the distribution of goods and production, especially of essential goods, medical equipment, and exports, must be maintained, along with normal export-import via sea and road as well as activities at home. The policy on 15-day social distancing is to prevent transmission of the virus within the community, he explained, adding that each person, household, enterprise, residential area, ward, village, commune, district, and city or province must be its own “fortress” in fighting the pandemic. Each and every Vietnamese citizen is a soldier in the fight. In photo: Some coffee shops close during COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
Touching on social distancing measures contained in his Directive No.16, the PM said these are aimed at protecting public health and include members of the public consciously keeping a safe distance apart from each other. People are required to wear masks and keep a distance of at least two metres when visiting these places and follow other instructions by the Ministry of Health on hygiene and disinfection. Factories, production facilities, construction sites must be closed, except for some cases, including (1) food production and processing of food, pharmaceuticals, medicines, medical supplies and equipment for epidemic prevention and national security and defence; (2) supplying electricity, water, environmental sanitation; livestock, poultry, aquaculture farms; factories supplying clean water, garment factories producing medical masks, factories producing bottled water and juice; (3) factories and enterprises having to complete orders signed before April 15 will also be allowed to operate. In photo: Despite closure, coffee shops and tea houses still provide their clients with delivery services. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
Business facilities and service providers which are allowed to remain open, according to the Prime Minister’s Directive, must ensure strict observance of labour protection, wearing masks, keeping safe distance, and at the same time applying solutions to prevent epidemics at the grassroots level, and ensure workers' health. In particular, all these businesses need to request employees and workers who visited or had contact with those connected to Bach Mai Hospital between March 10 and 28 to be isolated and provide samples for testing. Only few flower vendors still wander on streets on the first days the Prime Minister’s directive is implemented. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
Directive 16/CT-TTg by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc consists of a range of stringent social distancing measures, including restricting people from leaving their homes and banning gatherings of more than two people in public. According to the Directive, businesses and service establishments producing and providing essential goods and services are allowed to remain open. The new rules will last until at least April 15. Non-essential businesses like restaurants, bars and gyms, and other gathering places have also shuttered in an attempt to contain the spread of the respiratory disease caused by novel coronavirus. Supermarkets selling necessities still open to serve clients’ need. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
The PM ordered a 15-day period of nationwide social distancing starting 00:00 on April 1, with the principle of every household, village, commune, district and province going into self-isolation. The directive is an attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus. Accordingly, only factories, businesses and service establishments producing and providing essential goods and services are allowed to remain open. People are still required to wear masks and keep a distance of at least two metres when visiting these places and follow other instructions by the Ministry of Health on hygiene and disinfection. In photo: Everyone wears face masks when going shopping. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
Regarding the request not to gather in groups of more than two people outside state offices, hospitals and schools, and in public places, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung on March 31 said that it sends a strong message that people should stay at home during the peak period and avoid going out and gathering in groups of many people, as the epidemic situation is now different from a few days ago. With new nationwide social distancing regulations to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic coming into force today, life as we know it has changed across the country. In photo: Basements of apartment buildings see fewer vehicles in and out during social distancing. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
The directive is an attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus. Accordingly, only factories, businesses and service establishments producing and providing essential goods and services are allowed to remain open. The Directive sends a strong message that people should stay at home during the peak period and avoid going out and gathering in groups of many people, as the epidemic situation is now different from a few days ago. With new nationwide social distancing regulations to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic coming into force today, life as we know it has changed across the country. In photo: Some private kindergartens have to close due to the pandemic. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) 
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 31 issued a strict order on social distancing, starting April 1. On the first day of implementing the order, Hanoi’s streets are much more deserted than usual. People are required to wear masks and keep a distance of at least two metres when visiting these places and follow other instructions by the Ministry of Health on hygiene and disinfection. With new nationwide social distancing regulations to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic coming into force today, life as we know it has changed across the country. In photo: With more free time, some people decided to take on farming. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) VNA
