At the meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has reiterated his order toseriously practise physical distancing and wear masks in public places in linewith the Decree No.16, adding that those failing to follow rules will bestrictly punished, because the risk of COVID-19 spread remains.
During a meeting with permanent Government members in Hanoi on April 9, PM Phuchighlighted the need to consistently prevent, discover, quarantine, zone off,ward off infection sources and effectively treat patients.
About prevention of external infection sources, the PM asked for continuing toclosely control border areas, limit and prevent foreigners and Vietnamese fromabroad from entering the country, except several special cases. Internationalflights must continue to be halted, except citizen protection cases that areallowed by the PM.
Domestic flights must be minimised while overseas Vietnamese were urged not toreturn home before April 15. Those who enter the country must be put underquarantine.
The Foreign Ministry was asked to continue adopting suitable citizen protectionpolicies The Health Ministry must enhance online health check-ups, andlocalities need to take stronger measures to ensure the serious implementationof Decree No.16.
The leader requested that the army and localities must prepare for quarantinesites, and continue training officers to cope with contingency cases.
The Health Ministry was assigned to ensure hygiene in quarantine sites andenough medicines, study the latest and most effective treatment regimes, aswell as offer more training courses on the use of ventilators.
It was also responsible for preventing infection at medical facilities andprotecting health of medical staff who directly combat the epidemic.
The PM directed producing more medical supplies and equipment, as well asfurther expanding international cooperation in the field.
He attached importance to promoting scientific research, using informationtechnology in epidemic prevention and control, and developing digital economyon the back of the fourth industrial revolution.
According to the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention andControl, the country now has over 6,400 ventilators. More than 70 businessesare producing medical masks with a daily capacity of 5.72 million and 40,000 N95masks. However, they are facing difficulties in input materials.
Besides, 40 firms are producing anti-bacterialcloth masks with total capacity of 7 million units a day. So far they haveproduced 30 million such masks, of which 7 million have been exported./.
