The Ministry of Health asked functional agencies to continue calling on people to strictly comply with the preventive measures, including social distancing, as this is the golden stage to minimize transmission of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Photo: VGP

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long stressed the point at a meeting of the Stteering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control that took place on April 3 under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

Regarding the implementation of the PM’s direction on social distancing (applicable since March 1), Long said this an important and timely solution to thoroughly contain the spread of COVID-19 in the community. 

As social distancing is a new measure, the ministry has coordinated with relevant agencies to put foward specific instructions on this issue to competent authorities for approval, said Long, adding that social distancing does not mean prohibiting traffic and market gathering, or a social lockdown. Instead, goods production and circulation activities are still maintained in a safe manner.

Long affirmed the COVID-19 outbreak in Viet Nam still remains under control, thus it is necessary to maintain production and socio-economic activities. Depending on the evolution of the disease, further recommendations and requirements will be made at an appropriate level. 

The number of entrants into Viet Nam by land decreases

The Ministry of National Defense said that the border guard force has deployed thousands of additional staffs to strictly control the entry and exit at all border gates, trails and border crossings. 

In recent days, the number of Vietnamese citizens returning to the country via land routes has decreased significantly, from thousands of arrivals previously to less than 1,000 people per day. All entrants have been quarantined in accordance with the current regulations. 

As of Friday morning, Viet Nam has 233 COVID-19 infection cases, of whom 217 have been confirmed since March 6.

Of the total patients, 85 have been cleared of the virus and discharged from hospitals while the rest have been treated at 22 medical facilities across the nation, said the Ministry of Health./.