Da Nang government, on Tuesday, issued an official dispatch which directs all local departments, agencies and district-level authorities to continue to significantly promote the strict practice of compulsorily protective measures against COVID-19 amid the whole country will be ringing in Tet (Lunar New Year) 2021 Festival.

Some highly noticeable instructions to which the general public must pay special heed are specifically stipulated as below.

The highest possible limit will be set to the organisation of festivals and events featuring large public gatherings, including religious ceremonies, year-end celebrations, weddings and funerals during the Tet break.

The public must ensure the strict practice of the Health Ministry-mandated 5K (in Vietnamese) motto: namely ‘Khau trang’ (Face mask) – ‘Khu khuan’ (Disinfection) – ‘Khoang cach’ ‘Distance’ - ‘Khong tu tap’ (No gatherings) – ‘Khai bao y te’ (Health Declaration) in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus. In particular, focus should be on making the public habit of wearing face masks a social norm.

Strict penalties will be imposed on any violations of Viet Nam's national government-mandated pandemic prevention and control regulations, especially cases of not wearing face masks in public places.

For the time being, the Da Nang healthcare sector must make updates on the latest developments of the pandemic and blockaded areas across Viet Nam, and urging local medical facilities to take preventive measures and apply appropriate medical interventions to eliminate the risk of coronavirus infection.

Special heed must be paid to detecting and promptly handling any suspicious cases of the coronavirus at the checkpoints set up at entrances to Da Nang for the application of appropriate intervention measures, in a bid to keep the coronavirus out of Da Nang.  

All arrivals to Da Nang, including foreigners, from other parts of Viet Nam are required to wear face coverings, make health declarations, and provide contact details and their Da Nang addresses in a bid to help local health officials to contact them if they have been in contact with suspected or confirmed case of the virus.

By XUAN DUNG – Translated by A.T