Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam asked localities to limit lockdown to the smallest possible scale during an online meeting of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control on February 3. 

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Leaders of Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, and Hanoi, the three coronavirus hotspots, also attended the meeting.

The army should be on hand in order to offer assistance to localities upon the detection of new cases, said Dam, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

It was reported at the meeting the fresh coronavirus outbreak in Hai Duong’s Chi Linh city has basically been brought under control, while Hanoi has controlled the source of transmission from Hai Duong, a gateway to the capital city.

However, committee members requested that Hanoi expand its track and trace system to include people returning from Quang Ninh province, one the country’s biggest coronavirus hotspots after Hai Duong. They also urged Quang Ninh  to remain vigilant to combat the various complicated developments of the pandemic.

With the pandemic situation proving to be complicated in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai, they suggested that the Health Ministry increase support for the locality as a means of preventing any potential spread of the virus.

Participants agreed that there is a need to conduct health declarations for all citizens nationwide. The Health Ministry has therefore been assigned to update and announce relevant information, while localities must seriously punish those who fail to wear masks in public places.

Chu Xuan Dung, vice chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee, said the capital has ordered restaurants, karaoke parlors, bars, nightclubs, and game shops to suspend operations. It also decided to limit festivals and events which involve large gatherings of people during the coming Lunar New Year break.

In line with this, all district and communal administrations have been instructed to strictly punish individuals who do not wear masks in public places, whilst also conducting testing for F1 and F2 cases as swiftly as possible.