Tasks for members of National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Response specified

1. Under the decision, PM Pham, the Head of the National Steering Committee, will oversee and direct overall operations of the Committee and delegate tasks to deputy heads and members of the Committee.

Pham will also directly provide guidance to the Sub-committee on social welfare and the Sub-committee on security and social order.

2. Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai – deputy head of the Committee and head of the Sub-committee on finance and logistics shall:

- Direct the operations of the Sub-committee on finance and logistics.

- Directly handle issues related to the state budget, taxes, insurance, bank interest rates, procurement mechanisms, prices of essential services and goods, and support packages for the people, especially those who have lost their jobs, and those living in areas being placed under social distancing order.  

- Take prime responsibility for allocating and managing financial resources for COVID-19 prevention and control; directing procurement of vaccines, equipment, medical supplies; designing support policies for frontline forces.

3. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam – deputy head of the Committee shall:

- Direct the operations of the Sub-committee on health.

- Direct the research and transfer of production technology of drugs, vaccines and medical equipment; direct application of preventive measures and technological plaftforms in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

4. Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh – deputy head of the Committee shall:

- Serve as a coordinator between the National Assembly and the Government in formulating necessary mechanisms and policies on disease prevention.

- Supervise the enforcement of laws, ordinances, and resolutions related to the pandemic prevention work.

5. Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh – deputy head of the Committee and head of the Sub-committee on production and circulation of goods shall:

- Direc the operations of the Sub-committee on production and circulation of goods.  

- Ensure strict enformcement of pandemic prevention protocols in production activities.

- Ensure adequate and timely supply of food and necessities for localities especially those undergoing social distancing rules.

- Ensure smooth circulation of goods. 

6.  Minister of Public Security To Lam – member of the Committee and head of the Sub-committee on security and social order shall:

- Lead the Sub-committee on security and social order. 

- Direct issues related to national security, social order and safety and handle violations related to the pandemic prevention regulations.

- Mobilize and coordinate police forces in collaboration with other forces in the pandemic fight. 

- Direct strict enforcement of social distancing rules.

- Ensure strict entry and exit control.

7. Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang – member of the Committee and head of the Sub-committee on social welfare shall:

- Direct the operations of the Sub-committee on social welfare. 

- Safeguard sovereignty over seas and islands, national borders; strictly control border crossings to prevent illegal entry and exit.

- Direct the army to coordinate with other forces in the fight against the pandemic.

- Ensure supply of food and necessities for residents in pandemic-hit areas, with particularl focus on the elderly, disabled people, vulneral groups and unemployees. 

8. President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien – member of the Committee and head of the Sub-committee on resorce mobilkization shall:

- Direct the operations of the Sub-committee on resource mobilization.

- Mobilize engagement of the whole society in the fight against the pandemic.

- Mobilize resources from domestic and foreign individuals and organizations for COVID-19 prevention and control. 

9. Head of the Party Central Committee’s Mass Mobilization Commission Bui Thi Minh Hoai – member of the Committee and head of the Sub-committee on mass mobilization shall:

- Direct the operations of the Sub-committee on mass mobilization. 

- Mobilize and encourage agencies, organizations, and people to actively and voluntarily comply with preventive measures and actively join the fight against the pandemic.

10. Head of the Party Central Committee’s Propagation and Educaiton Nguyen Trong Nghia – member of the Committee shall:

- Direct the operations of the Sub-cmmittee on communication.

- Ensure timely and precise dissemination of information.

11. Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long – member of the Committee and head of the Sub-committee on health shall:

- Be responsible for directing and organizing the implementation of medical surveillance, testing, quarantine, treatment, and vaccination as well as preventive measures.

- Ensure people’s fast access to essential health services.

- Enhance healthcare capabilities of localities.

- Design response plans for different pandemic situations.

12. Chairman of the National Assembly’s Budget and Finance Committee Nguyen Phu Cuong – member of the Committee shall”

- Direct coordination between agencies of the Government and the National Assembly in formulating necessary mechanisms and policies related to finance and budget for COVID-19 prevention and control work.

- Supervise implementation of the aforesaid mechanisms and policies.

13. Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son – member of the Committee shall:

- Speed up the implementation of the Committee’s tasks.

- Make timely reports on emerging issues to the head of the National Steering Committee.

14. Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long – member of the Committee shall:

- Direct the review and amendments and supplements to legal documents related to the COVID-19 prevention and control work.

15. Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung – member of the Committee  and head of the Sub-committee on communication shall:

- Direct mass media in strengthening dissemination of preventive measures, good examples, and effective prevention models.

- Promote the application of technological tools and platforms in the pandemic fight.

The National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control was first established on January 31, 2020.

In response to complicated evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, top Vietnamese leaders held a meeting on August 24 during which they assigned Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh as head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

By Kim Anh