Gov’t adopts Guidelines on safe adaptation to COVID-19 pandemic

The guidelines were adopted as Viet Nam has gained experience in dealing with the pandemic while the capacity of healthcare sector has gradually improved and the vaccine coverage is increasing fast among high-risk groups and urban residents.

The Government said COVID-19 fight remains a key task in order to protect public’s health and lives while trying to turn the country into “new normal” as soon as possible.

Four levels of pandemic risk

The Guidelines stipulate four levels of pandemic risks as follows:

Level 1: Low-risk (new normal) – labeled green

Level 2: Medium-risk – labeled yellow

Level 3: High-risk – labeled orange

Level 4: Very high-risk – labeled red

Pandemic risk is determined on the basis of three indicators:

(i) Number of new infections/population/time;

(ii) Vaccine coverage rate;

(iii) Treatment capacity of different administrative levels.

Based on instructions of the Ministry of Health, cities and provinces shall decide to raise or lower COVID-19 assessment risk. In case of raising the pandemic assessment risk, local authorities shall have to inform citizens and businesses at least 48 hours in advance.

Corresponding response measures

The Guidelines specify response measures applicable to the following activities of organizations, public agencies, and businesses:

(i) Indoor and outdoor gatherings

(ii) Road, inland waterway, sea passenger transport

(iii) Interprovincial and intra-provincial transportation of goods

(iv) Operations of production facilities, construction sites; supermarkets, trade centers, convenient stores, wholesale markets; restaurants, traditional markets; discotheques, karaoke parlors, bars, Internet shops, electronic game shops, barber shops, beauty salons and other service facilities decided by local authorities, street vending

(v) Face-to-face learning

(vi) Operations of public agencies

(vii) Operations of religious sites

(viii) Operations of resorts, hotels, tourism sites; cultural, art, and sport activities

The Guidelines also specify measures applicable to individuals, such as compliance with the Ministry of Health’s 5K message, travel restrictions, and COVID-19 treatment.

The Guidelines shall be implemented synchronously nationwide. Localities are allowed to adopt additional measures provided that they are not contrary to the regulations adopted by the central Government.

Localities’ additional measures must not constitute hindrance to movement of goods, production and business activities, and mobility of people./.

By Quang Minh