The Da Nang government has issued Directive No.8 on launching flexible approaches for the effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the new approaches will take effect from today, September 30.

The new guidance urges district authorities at local level and relevant units to continue to follow the recommended COVID-19 control measures in line with the guidelines from national and municipal governments. 

Each individual in the city is urged to continue to play their part in the fight against COVID-19 under the slogan ‘every ward, every commune, every residential area, every residential group must be a fortress to stop the spread of the virus’.

The focus is on implementing a core set of six principles for effective response to the COVID-19 outbreak as defined by the Vietnamese Prime Minister. The six key principles identified are health sector playing a central role in the fight against COVID-19, the economy becoming the foundation, science and technology playing key role, socio-political stability being an important factor, vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 and public's awareness being prerequisites to success in the fight against the deadly disease, ensuring safe production.

The Da Nang Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has defined four levels of risk for decision making and pandemic risk mitigation: level 1: low - new normal, level 2: moderate, level 3: high; level 4: very high.

The heed is paid on continuing to roll out mass-screening program to find all cases, conduct comprehensive contact tracing of each confirmed case, and move quickly to stamp out local outbreaks. In addition, the city will speed up vaccinations to reach 100% vaccination coverage as soon as possible. These are critical steps on the road to gradually reopen the city's economy.

The heath sector must provide safe and effective treatments to lessen the severity and reduce COVID-19's mortality.

Compliance with the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the use of QR codes are compulsory for crowded venues.

Agencies, organizations, and businesses will be only allowed to reopen with the proper safety measures in place in line with the guidance from the Ministry of Health in order to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 at work. Using a QR code for visitor management is made mandatory in businesses, shopping centres and services.

The city will continue its efforts to provide timely support for struggling families and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help them get through this tough time. In addition, necessary measures will be taken to ensure sufficient supply of food and essential goods for people in locked down areas due to COVID-19.

The city will continue to implement strict measures at entry points as a blanket policy to prevent COVID-19 importations.

Local authorities are playing a vital role in explaining rules to their communities, encouraging them to comply, and enforcing where necessary. This role will contunue as the city enters new phase of its fight agaisnt COVID-19. Heads of districts, agencies, units, and organizations will take full responsibility for any mistakes in their localities or organizations’ COVID-19 response.

Reporting by XUAN DUNG – Translating by H.L