MoH, WHO jointly issue instructions for safe Lunar New Year holiday

VGP – The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in Viet Nam have jointly issued recommendations citizens to have a safe Tet holiday amidst the swift spread of COVID-19 around the globe. 

They said that HEALTH is the most precious gift we can give each other during Tet holidays.

They encouraged citizens to carefully consider following three questions before making plans for the Tet holiday:

1. What are the current recommendations from the health authorities?

2. What is the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in areas where you plan to celebrate Lunar New Year?

3. If your family and friends (who you plan to spend your Lunar New Year holiday with) get infected with COVID-19, will they be at risk of being in critical conditions?

Citizens are advised to change their plans at the last minute if they or their relatives get sick/come in contact with COVID-19 patients. 

In order to minimize infection risk, citizens are advised to regularly update and comply with instructions on travel restrictions and recommendations of local authorities, stay at home if they get sick or come in contact with COVID-19 patients within recent 14 days.

Citizens are also advised to wear masks, regularly wash hands and keep safe distance with each other.

Earlier, the MoH announced a 5K (in Vietnamese) message to help citizens get used to living safely with the COVID-19 pandemic in a new normal. 5K means "Khau trang" (face mask) - "Khu khuan" (disinfection) - "Khoang cach" (distance) - "Khong tu tap" (no gathering) - "Khai bao y te" (health declaration). 

The upcoming Lunar New Year holiday falls on February 10-16. 

As of 6:05 am on February 4, Viet Nam confirmed 1,948 COVID-19 patients, including 1,059 locally-transmitted cases./.

By Kim Loan