Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a new Directive on strengthening measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic following detection of community infection cases of Covid-19 in Ho Chi Minh City. 

The following are some highlights of the Directive:

1. Continue the strategy to prevent risk from outside, zone off areas, and treat the disease effectively while enhancing vigilance and standing ready to cope with all pandemic situations.

2. Mask wearing shall be mandatory at quarantine sites, residential areas, and public places such as markets, schools, factories, airports and public transport means, and especially medical establishments.

3. The HCMC Municipal People’s Committee shall direct fast and serious contact tracing of F1 and F2 people who came in contact with the newly-detected community transmission cases of Covid-19 in order to prevent the 3rd wave of local infections.

4. The Ministries of National Defense and Public Securities shall strengthen border control and strictly manage entrants.

5. Flights carrying diplomats, experts, investors and skilled workers and their family members to Viet Nam as well as Vietnamese workers to other countries shall continue to reboot economic recovery.

- All incoming flights shall have to strictly follow preventive measures.

- The repatriation of Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad due to Covid-19 shall be done in accordance with domestic quarantine capacity.

- All incoming travelers shall have to be quarantined at concentrated camps managed by the Army or other quarantine sites designated by local authorities. Quarantine procedures and duration must be strictly observed.

Relevant ministries, agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall have to strictly monitor quarantine establishments to prevent cross-infections in these establishments and transmission to the communities.

7. Authorities all levels shall have to consult with health agencies when they organize events and activities with the participation of those coming from abroad, especially high-risk countries.

8. If a local transmission case is detected, social distancing shall be imposed at high-risk areas.

9. The health sector must continue improving the capacity of treating, zoning off, and testing and working with foreign partners in producing Covid-19 vaccines for domestic use.

10. Mass media must continue communication on the Covid-19 response, with a focus on raising public awareness of the pandemic, helping people to sustain vigilance, and preventing negative and distorted information that may cause public concern.