• An Giang
  • Binh Duong
  • Binh Phuoc
  • Binh Thuan
  • Binh Dinh
  • Bac Lieu
  • Bac Giang
  • Bac Kan
  • Bac Ninh
  • Ben Tre
  • Cao Bang
  • Ca Mau
  • Can Tho
  • Dien Bien
  • Da Nang
  • Da Lat
  • Dak Lak
  • Dak Nong
  • Dong Nai
  • Dong Thap
  • Gia Lai
  • Ha Noi
  • Ho Chi Minh
  • Ha Giang
  • Ha Nam
  • Ha Tinh
  • Hoa Binh
  • Hung Yen
  • Hai Duong
  • Hai Phong
  • Hau Giang
  • Khanh Hoa
  • Kien Giang
  • Kon Tum
  • Lai Chau
  • Long An
  • Lao Cai
  • Lam Dong
  • Lang Son
  • Nam Dinh
  • Nghe An
  • Ninh Binh
  • Ninh Thuan
  • Phu Tho
  • Phu Yen
  • Quang Binh
  • Quang Nam
  • Quang Ngai
  • Quang Ninh
  • Quang Tri
  • Soc Trang
  • Son La
  • Thanh Hoa
  • Thai Binh
  • Thai Nguyen
  • Thua Thien Hue
  • Tien Giang
  • Tra Vinh
  • Tuyen Quang
  • Tay Ninh
  • Vinh Long
  • Vinh Phuc
  • Vung Tau
  • Yen Bai

Social distancing is last resort to contain COVID-19 outbreaks

VGP – Social distancing should be the last resort to contain COVID-19 outbreaks as it will lead to huge negative socio-economic consequences, said professor Tran Dac Phu, a senior advisor at the Public Health Emergency Operations Center.

May 17, 2021 2:00 PM GMT+7

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chairs a meeting between the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and leaders of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, May 16, 2021 - Photo: VGP

Professor Tran made the above statement at the meeting between the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and leaders of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces on Sunday afternoon.

The National Steering Committee, led by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, agreed that provincial-level or national-level social distancing could only be applied with approval of the Prime Minister.

Earlier on May 12, Deputy PM Vu urged localities to do their best to prevent COVID-19 transmissions at industrial parks in a bid to sustain economic activities as most of the factories are closed spaces where many people are working at the same time, thus they are highly transmissible environments.

The Committee urged Bac Ninh and Bac Giang – the two localities hit hardest by the fourth wave of local transmissions to ramp up testing at industrial parks with support from the ministries of health, national defense and pubic security.

Early detection of the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks and serious implementation of the 5K (in Vietnamese) campaign: Khau trang (facemask) - (Khu khuan) disinfection - (Khoang cach) distance - (Khong tu tap) no gathering – (Khai bao y te) health declaration is key to help prevent the spread of the virus and avoid social distancing, experts said.

The Committee particularly underlined the importance of simplifying procedures to make it easier for those with travel records to the pandemic-hit areas and medical facilities, F2 and F3 individuals, and air passengers to declare their health conditions.

In addition, students and workers at industrial parks also should also be required to make health declaration so that prompt responses can be made in case of an outbreak. 

As of 12:00 am on Monday, Viet Nam confirmed 4,242 COVID-19 cases, including 1,204 local infections in 27 cities and provinces since April 27 when the fourth wave of local transmissions began.

Thanks to quick contact-tracing and isolation, all new cases reported over the past days are residents of areas placed under social distancing or lockdown, thus posing no threat to the community.

By Kim Loan