Da Nang Party Committee Deputy Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet and People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh on Friday co-chaired an online meeting with representatives from local relevant agencies to discuss protective measures against COVID-19 in the new normal. The city leaders called on the general public to continue staying on guard against the deadly virus by strengthening the compliance of Viet Nam's national government-mandated pandemic prevention and control measures.

Da Nang Party Committee Deputy Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet delivering his instructions to prevent COVID-19 spreads

Like other Vietnamese localities, the Da Nang government’s proactive move came amidst the globally complicated COVID-19 pandemic with the new more transmissible variants of coronavirus. Meanwhile, Viet Nam, which has had a good handle on the domestic situation with one of the world's lowest infection and death rates, is looking forwards to welcoming in the Lunar New Year (Tet) and the 13^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) slated for 25 January to 2 February.

Addressing the event, Deputy Secretary Triet expressed his deep concern over the still-raging COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, and especially the new variant of the coronavirus that “can spread more quickly” than prior strains of the virus.

For the time being, it is essential that the general public strictly follow the 5K  (in Vietnamese) motto: namely ‘Khau trang’ (Face mask) – ‘Khu khuan’ (Disinfection) – ‘Khoang cach’ ‘Distance’ - ‘Khong tu tap’ (No gathering) – ‘Khai bao y te’ (Health Declaration).

Focus should be on making the public habit of wearing face masks a social norm, limiting the organisation of unnecessary large gatherings, events and festivals, especially in the buildup to Tet.

Also importantly, it is a must-do to increasingly inspecting the practice of pandemic prevention measures in workplaces, residential areas, and such places facing a high risk of coronavirus infections as supermarkets, railway stations, airports, schools, hospitals, factories.

In his instructions, Chairman Chinh underlined an urgent need for Da Nang, like other Vietnamese localities, to gear up detecting and handling any illegal border jumpers who might bring the deadly coronavirus into Viet Nam.

Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh asking all-levelled agencies to take coronavirus prevention measures in a stricter and more highly responsible manner

Over recent times, local traffic police officers have increased their regular patrols and inspections over major entry/exit points in Da Nang in order to detect and handle those who are found taking advantage of road traffic activities to commit illegal acts, especially the smuggling of foreign nationals into Vietnamese territory.

As stipulated in the Vietnamese laws, any foreigners who enter Viet Nam illicitly or stay in the country illegally must undergo medical examinations and epidemiological investigations before being sent back to their home country.

According to doctor Nguyen Tien Hong, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health, functional local bodies have been tightening the management of local serviced accommodation establishments permitted by Da Nang authorities to serve as temporary quarantine sites for all arrivals from overseas to Da Nang with the quarantine fees charged.

Previously, addressing the Thursday meeting in Ha Noi, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, affirmed Viet Nam would continue to “robustly protect itself from the outside", while strengthening measures on the inside.”

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered suspending flights bringing Vietnamese citizens home from countries and territories worldwide which report new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and see complicated pandemic developments, firstly the UK and South Africa.

By PHAN CHUNG- Translated by A.T