The northern province of Hai Duong, the biggest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, has decided to adopt social distancing measures amid the complicated development of the fresh outbreak in the province.

Pham Xuan Thang, secretary of Hai Duong provincial People’s Committee,
inspects COVID-19 prevention measures applied at Best Facific Vietnam Co.
Ltd in Cam Dien-Luong Dien industrial zone.

The order is due to take effect as from midnight February 16 and to last 15 days.

The decision was announced by Pham Xuan Thang, Secretary of the Hai Duong provincial Party Committee at the committee’s urgent meeting on February 15 to deal with the outbreak.

In line with this, local authorities have called on all people from the same family, village, commune, and district to remain where they are.

Factories must implement measures such as ensuring a safe distance is maintained between staff, premises are thoroughly disinfected, and employees wear masks at all times to prevent possible virus infection.

In addition, people should only leave their home in the event of an emergency, to purchase food, or to buy medicine.

Factories, production facilities, and businesses involved in the trade of essential goods and services must ensure that all people maintain a distance of at least two metres from each other, whilst no gathering of more than two should be allowed in public, with the exception of offices, schools, and hospitals.

The COVID-19 hotspot of Chi Linh city where the virus recurred late last month will remain under a lockdown order until the fresh outbreak is brought under control.

Hai Duong has recorded dozens of new cases on a daily basis during the past few days, with most of them linked to the outbreak in Chi Linh City. 

Vietnam has confirmed 637 locally transmitted cases, including 461 infections in Hai Duong, since the virus recurred on January 27, 2021.

At present, relevant agencies are speeding up contact tracing to quarantine and test suspect cases in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.