‘New approach in Covid-19 fight is necessary, PM says

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the meeting (Photo: VNE)

The change of approaching plans, perspectives and command is evaluated as necessary and would create basic guidelines for relevant agencies.

The PM also tasked Covid-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee of all levels to both inherit and adapt anti-pandemic lessons Vietnam has gained in the past year. He cited that the virus is mutating to more contagious variants, on top of that, people are losing their guard in recent times.

“All localities must stay alert, respond to unexpected situations in flexible and creative ways,” Chinh said at the regular Government meeting on May 5.

The Government leader went on by asking to speed up vaccine import and mass inoculation, with frontline workers prioritized for the shots. Technological advances should be utilized.

The Health Ministry was tasked to build possible pandemic scenarios and corresponding solutions to both effectively contain the virus and promote socio-economic development. Units should proactively propose policies to support people affected by the pandemic, especially the lower classes in society.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese and overseas Vietnamese are requested to voluntarily observe preventive protocols, especially masks mandate and social distancing order.

One commune in Quang Ngai under lockdown as one new local infection reported (Photo: VNE)

Vietnam on May 5 imposed 21-day mandatory quarantine for both foreign arrivals and those who come into contact with Covid-19 patients.

The decision has been made after several individuals contracted the virus after they'd already completed the 14-day quarantine and tested negative twice or thrice, according to VNE. The decision, which took immediate effect Wednesday, was taken after the Health Ministry consulted experts on ways to keep the larger community safe, said Minister Nguyen Thanh Long.

In the past week, at least three such cases have been detected.

The latest decision is the second reversal in as many days. The ministry had said a day earlier that those in centralized quarantine facilities would not be allowed to go home after completing the mandated 14-day quarantine and testing negative twice during the period. It had not specified the new duration.

Then, it reversed the decision earlier today, saying the original 14-day quarantine period will remain with strengthened post-quarantine monitoring and restrictions.

Minister Long has urged concerned facilities to impose quarantine procedures strictly to prevent contagion. A person who has completed the 21-day quarantine needs to be supervised for the next seven days at home, he said.

He also asked localities to find and conduct random tests for foreigners who have entered Vietnam recently, as well as employees of bars, karaoke and massage parlors.

Medical staff taking samples for Covid-19 testing in Ho Chi Minh City in February (Photo: VNE)

Singapore has recently increased the stay-home notice period from 14 days to 21 for travelers arriving from higher-risk countries and regions, including Vietnam.

The extension, to take effect from Friday, will apply to visitors arriving from all countries and territories, except Australia, Brunei, mainland China, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, The Strait Times newspaper reported.

Travelers from Vietnam will have the option of staying the last seven days at their places of residence.

The stay-home notice, issued under the Infectious Diseases Act, requires travelers to remain in their place of residence or dedicated facility for a stipulated period.

Singapore's Ministry of Health said all visitors will undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on arrival, the 14th day and before the end of the quarantine period.

Travelers from Vietnam had earlier been allowed to opt out of dedicated facilities and serve their 14-day stay-home notice period at their place of residence.

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