Vietnam: Immediately annulling all travel restriction or prohibition measures that are against Directive 16

Specifically, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Directive No. 16/CT-TTg on the implementation of urgent measures for prevention and control of COVID-19, which is being implemented seriously by all regulatory bodies and local governments. However, there are some misunderstandings and inconsistencies regarding implementation of certain contents of this Directive. In Official Dispatch No. 2601/VPCP-KGVX, the Prime Minister requests strict adherence to the following three main tasks:

1. Minimizing the movement of people, except for extremely necessary cases

The Prime Minister requests people to strictly carry out nationwide quarantine according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTg, ensure social distancing and maintain required distance between people and between communities. Concurrently, to prevent community transmission, people should limit their movement and stay home unless it is for the following necessities: purchase of food, pharmaceuticals and other essential goods and services; emergencies such as emergency aid, medical services, acts of god, fire, etc.; working in state agencies and units, armed forces, diplomatic missions and the establishments allowed to operate.

When leaving home, people must wear facemasks, perform hand hygiene with soap or hand sanitizers; not form groups of more than 2 people in public spaces or outside office buildings, schools or hospitals and keep a distance of at least 2m.

2. Establishments allowed to operate from April 01, 2020

According to Official Dispatch No. 2601/VPCP-KGVX, the following establishments may continue to operate from April 01, 2020, which means that they will not be subject to temporary suspension:

- Factories, manufacturing establishments;

- Traffic/construction works;

- Essential businesses (food, pharmaceuticals, gasoline, oil, electricity, water, fuels, etc.);

- Educational institutions, banks, treasuries, and providers of banking services, enterprise support services (notary services, lawyer services, vehicle registration, secured transaction registration, etc.);

- Securities services, postal services, telecommunications services, goods transport, import and export services, medical services, mortuary services, etc

Heads of these establishments shall ensure complete safety and apply all measures against COVID-19, including:

- Provide adequate equipment for COVID-19 prevention and control according to regulations and/or recommendations from health authorities and wear facemasks in a serious manner;

- Request their employees to complete health declaration and comply with measures concerning restriction of movement, contact and communication;

- Suspend non-urgent activities and reduce density of employees in the workplace;

- Properly control and organize employee transport (if any) to and from the workplace to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Any establishment that fails to satisfy the above-mentioned requirements must cease their operation. Local health authorities shall inspect and supervise COVID-19 prevention and control in these establishments.

3. Immediately annulling all travel restriction or prohibition measures that are against Directive No. 16/CT-TTg

Specifically, the Prime Minister requests to suspend public transit, excluding transport for official business, transport of workers, specialists and quarantined persons and transport of goods and manufacturing materials/ingredients. Minimize use of private vehicles. Ensure continuous transport of goods and manufacturing materials/ingredients. Concurrently, local governments must annul all travel restriction or prohibition measures that are against Directive No. 16/CT-TTg.

The Prime Minister also requests heads of regulatory bodies, units, organizations and enterprises to facilitate working from home in a manner that suits their respective situations and prevents stagnation, especially tasks that must be done before deadlines or within a prescriptive period according to regulations of laws, and public services for people and enterprises.

Relevant local governments and ministries shall proactively modify measures for COVID-19 prevention and control in accordance with the contents of Official Dispatch No. 2601/VPCP-KGVX; cooperate in resolving arising problems within their respective competences; strictly handle violations.

Nguyen Trinh

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