COVID-19: Social distancing order in place in high-risk localities

The extension will also apply to 10 other provinces and cities of the high-risk group, namely Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Tay Ninh, and Ha Tinh.

The government is to meet next week to examine the situation and decide on whether or not social distancing measures will be extended again in these localities till April 30.

Though the policy is practised, the designated localities must pay much attention to production and infrastructure construction, said Prime Minister Phuc at a meeting with permanent Cabinet members.

Meanwhile, the group of 15 localities at a medium risk were required to draw up their own measures to realize the current social distancing order. They are Binh Duong, Thai Nguyen Can Tho, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Nghe An, Hai Phong, Kien Giang, Thai Nguyen, Thua-Thien Hue, Lang Son, An Giang, Binh Phuoc, Dong Thap, and Soc Trang. The government will make a decision on these localities at its meeting next week.

The remaining 36 cities and provinces classified at a low risk were permitted to consider implementing the social distancing order, depending on the actual situation in their localities.

“Our life cannot return to normal until the disease is put under control, requiring us to take precautionary steps,” said the PM. He asked relevant ministries to restrict domestic flights and suspend issuing visas for foreigners until April 30.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs will work closely with all 63 provinces and cities to soon disburse the VND62 trillion social welfare package for needy people affected by the epidemic.  

At the meeting, the PM thanked the entire population for swiftly responding to the Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong’s appeal and the Government’s drastic measures to combat the disease, resulting no deaths.  

He lauded medical workers, armed forces, scientists and medical equipment manufacturers for their all-out-efforts to save coronavirus patients and contain the epidemic. He also acknowledged ministries and localities’ efforts in implementing socio-economic development goals, so as to keep the national economy on track.

The Prime Minister has issued the social distancing order lasting from April 1-15, in an attempt to prevent the novel coronavirus epidemic spreading to the wider community. Drastic measures introduced have proved to be effective as it helped keep the rate of infection rather low.

As of 06.00pm April 15, Vietnam has recorded 267 coronavirus cases with no fatalities. Of the total, 171 patients have fully recovered, and dozens of the remaining patients have tested negative for the deadly virus.