HCMC – The new coronavirus cases in HCMC were infected by outside sources, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a Cabinet meeting on Covid-19 infection prevention and control on December 1.
He stressed the need for vigilance and asked local residents to wear face masks in public places, such as hospitals, schools and supermarkets. He also decided to suspend all inbound international commercial flights, Tuoi Tre Online newspaper reported.
The Government will allow only repatriation flights. All repatriates must be quarantined at standard centralized quarantine centers.
The Ministries of Transport and Health must direct airlines to seriously comply with quarantine regulations and limit unnecessary activities to prevent gatherings.
In addition, he asked that strategies which proved effective during the two previous Covid-19 outbreaks be implemented, including strictly controlling people entering the country, zoning off pandemic-hit areas and effectively treating infected patients.
As for HCMC, the Government leader asked the municipal government to quickly trace and place under quarantine those who were in close and indirect contact with the patients.
He also assigned the Ministry of Transport to clarify the responsibilities of agencies, individuals or organizations over the local Covid-19 transmission situation.
Agencies and localities receiving foreigners or those from other countries with a high risk of Covid-19 infection should check the process with the Ministry of Health.
Moreover, the police and military forces should tighten control over immigration at border gates.
Social distancing will be observed in places with a high risk of infection, PM Phuc noted, adding that the healthcare system must be prepared to combat the pandemic, while the checkup and treatment ability should be stepped up.
Regarding Covid-19 vaccines, the prime minister asked the local agencies to cooperate with foreign ones to buy vaccines for those who are prone to the coronavirus infection.
