PM orders lockdown of Chi Linh city, suspension of Van Don airport to contain COVID-19 spread
VGP – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued a directive ordering lockdown of Chi Linh city of Hai Duong province and temporary suspension of the Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh province after authorities found 84 local infection cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
In Chi Linh, residents are asked to stay at home and only leave their places for essential needs such as buying food and medicines or medical emergencies, go to work at agencies, factories, businesses, and services establishments not told to close down, and other emergencies.
A gathering of more than two people are not allowed outside agencies, places of residence, schools, and hospitals.
Residents are told to maintain a distance of at least two meters from each other.
All schools, entertainment venues and non-essential businesses are shut down.
Passenger transport out of Chi Linh is suspended, except in case of official duties or urgent needs.
The directive, however, stated that transport of goods and input materials for production must go on uninterrupted.
For Quang Ninh province, the Government chief order closure of the Van Don International Airport from noon on Thursday.
Those who have come in close contact with COVID-19 patients must be placed under 21-day quarantine.
Authorities of provinces and centrally-run cities must review and strengthen the implementation of containment measures, particularly at healthcare establishments, schools, industrial parks, factories.
Citizens are told to wear facemasks, keep safe distance at public places and avoid mass gatherings.
Phuc tasked the Ministry of Health to provide timely support and resources for Quang Ninh and Hai Duong to stamp out the COVID-19 clusters.
The Ministries of National Defense, Public Security, Health, and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must strictly control borders and strictly fine illegal entrants or those who organize illegal entry into Viet Nam.
On Thursday, Viet Nam reported 91 new COVID-19 cases, including 84 local infection cases and seven imported cases. This is a record number of COVID-19 cases in a single day.
Among the latest imported cases, one is Costa Rican man who flew from the U.S. to Ho Chi Minh City on January 24.
The man, aged 28, is being treated at the city’s Cu Chi field hospital.
With cases confirmed Thursday, patient tally rose to 1,642, of whom 1,430 have recovered and exited hospitals while 35 others have been reported dead./.
By Huong Giang
