Vietnam extends social distancing campaign for 1-2 weeks in 12 localities

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to extend social distancing campaign in 12 localities for additional one to two weeks when the number of new infections are going down nationwide.

People stand two meters apart from each other per social distancing measures to collect free rice in Hanoi, April 14, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and ten other provinces which have high coronavirus infection risks will extend the social distancing campaign until April 22 or April 30 depending on the specific pandemic situation, Ministry of Health said.

The 10 other localities to extend the campaign are Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, and Tay Ninh.

On Wednesday afternoon meeting, Prime Minister Phuc agreed with the Standing Committee on COVID-19 prevention and control on the classification of disease risk in localities.

The committee proposed the government to extend the social distancing order for at least one more week in cities and provinces with high risks of the virus. In other localities, some businesses could be re-opened under certain conditions.

Vietnamese Premier Phuc ordered relevant authorities to keep tightening virus prevention measures, especially those restricting people from going outdoors and gathering in large numbers, the government said a different posting.

Government officials also met with industrial groups and foreign business associations to review measures to further help pandemic-hit companies, including resolving tax issues.

The social distancing campaign was introduced by the Government on March 31, applicable from April 1-15, under which people are told to stay at home and should only go out in case of extreme necessity, such as buying food, foodstuff and medicine; emergencies; working at factories, production establishments, facilities trading in essential services and goods that are not subject to provisional closure; and other emergency cases.

The Government requested strict observance of keeping an interpersonal distance of at least two meters and not gathering in groups of more than two people outside the workplace, schools and hospitals, and in public places.

He warned that all the past achievements of the COVID-19 fight will disappear if the preventive measures are loosened, reaffirming that protection of public health is the supreme goal.

On the same day, the Ministry of Health confirmed two more patients cleared of COVID-19, raising total number of recovered patients to 171. Both of them will continue to be medically monitored in the next 14 days.

On Wednesday morning, the ministry confirmed one more COVID-19 patient, bringing the patient tally to 267.