Vietnam must prepare a new decree in order to extend social distancing as a result of the complex nature of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic spreading globally, officials proposed on April 13.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chairs the National Committee
on COVID-19 Prevention and Control meeting in Hanoi

The aim of the new decree should be to deal with specific measures, taking into account the typical characteristics of various localities, groups of people, and businesses affected by the epidemic.

It has been suggested that the current decree relating to social distancing should be maintained, with a strong emphasis placed on prevention measures, including the wearing of face masks, maintaining a distance of two metres from others when in public, and thoroughly tracing suspected cases of infection.

According to the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, so far the social distancing measures implemented between April 1 and April 15 have proved to be effective in slowing down the rate of infection across the country. 

Despite the positive signs, the committee noted the creeping in of a complacent attitude among citizens in recent days which has seen crowds of people taking to the streets, therefore putting vulnerable people at risk of infection. 

Without doubt, the implementation of these measures will affect people’s daily life and the productivity of businesses, but it is a necessity to strictly observe such measures for the sake of the community’s health, the committee said. 

As a result, officials urged localities to encourage residents to seriously follow the measures and be strict when dealing with law-breakers. 

The committee also proposed that the country continues implementing its immigration policy, scrutinizes those who display flu-like symptoms, conducts pilot sampling of foreigners who live in sparsely populated areas, and monitors crowded places, such as places of worship, tourist resorts, wholesale markets, wet markets, and craft villages.