Will the Court Continue to Suspend Trials Due to Covid-19?

According to Official Dispatch No. 127/TANDTC-VP in 2020 on the prevention and control of COVID-19 issued by the Supreme People's Court, the following guidelines are to be observed:

- Courts located in provinces and cities within the High-Risk Group, comprising 12 localities: Hanoi, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Ha Tinh:

+ Continue to suspend trials and resolution of cases as per Directive No. 02/2020/CT-CA dated March 10, 2020, except for cases whose resolution timeframe has expired (including any extension period) and must mandatorily hold trial sessions or meetings per procedural law regulations, but must strictly follow disease prevention and control measures.

- Courts located in provinces and cities within the Risk Group and Low-Risk Group should continue implementing Directive No. 15/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister. As of 12:00 AM on April 16, 2020, the following measures must be strictly adhered to:

+ Conduct trials and resolve cases according to procedural law but must implement effective disease prevention and control measures. Summon only individuals involved in the procedural activities to attend court sessions or meetings.+ Minimize the organization of court sessions or meetings with more than 20 people in one room; enforce a distance of over 2 meters between individuals in the courtroom and workplace. Arrange online trial rooms to ensure a minimum distance between individuals.

From the above regulations, it can be inferred that courts located in provinces and cities within the High-Risk Group will continue to suspend trials. Courts in provinces and cities within the Risk Group and Low-Risk Group may organize trials and resolve cases but must heed disease prevention regulations.

Sincerely!