Nationwide social distancing is not travel ban, national lockdown, PM says

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presides over Cabinet meeting on April 1, 2020. Photo: VGP

Viet Nam still maintains circulation of goods, espeically necessary commodities and medical supplies, safe manufacturing, and export activities, the Government chief affirmed.

On March 31, PM Phuc signed a directive rolling out urgent measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the directive, Viet Nam will go into nationwide social distancing within 15 days, starting from April 1.

Phuc explained that social distancing is a legal situation aiming to protect people’s health and lives. Social distancing means keeping certain distance from one to other to cope with dangerous situations or disease outbreaks.

Social distancing is not travel bans or lockdown, he asserted, adding that it only restricts travel.

Phuc said that the 15-day social distancing was introduced as it is the "golden" time for the nation to minimize COVID-19 transmission to the wider community.

He affirmed that the Government has "actively controlled all the situations" as evidenced by the World Bank's April 2020 Economic Update for East Asia and Pacific, released on March 31, saying that Viet Nam’s economy remains resilient to external shocks in the first few months of 2020.

The Government will discuss a string of measures to support business and production activities and ensure social security during this meeting, according to Phuc.

As of Wednesday morning, 212 COVID-19 infection cases were confirmed in Viet Nam, of whom 60 have been cleared of the virus and discharged from hospitals./.

By Thuy Dung