Safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of COVID-19 epidemic

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Covid-19 patients have workout at the Field Hospital No. 6 

The Resolution No. 128 classifies the epidemic into 4 levels: low risk (new normal, corresponding to blue), medium risk (yellow), high risk (orange), and very high risk (red). The scope of assessment of the epidemic level is from the commune level, encouraging the assessment from the smallest possible scale (below the commune level) in order to ensure flexibility and efficiency.

Three criteria to evaluate the epidemic level include: the rate of new cases in the community or population or time, the coverage of vaccine, and the capacity of collection and treatment of levels.

Based on the guidances of the Ministry of Health and the epidemic situation in the area, the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities has decided to change the epidemic level. In case of upgrading the epidemic level, it is required to notify at least 48 hours to the people, organizations and businesses to understand and prepare before applying it.

The health measures including the medical isolation, testing, collection, treatment and vaccination are implemented according to the guidances of the Ministry of Health at all levels.

The regulation specifies the measures to be applied according to 4 levels of the epidemic for a number of activities of organizations, agencies and businesses, including: Organizing concentrated indoor and outdoor activities to ensure the measures on the prevention and control of the epidemic; public passenger transport by road, inland waterway and maritime to ensure the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemic; internal or inter-provincial circulation and transportation of goods; production, business and services; direct education and training activities; activities of agencies and offices; religious, belief and worship facilities; activities of resorts, hotels, motels, travels; cultural, artistic, exercises and sports performances; applying the information technology.

For the individuals, the Resolution specifies the measures on 5K compliance, applying the information technology, people's movements and home treatments for the people infected with Covid-19 at each epidemic level.

This provision is uniformly applied throughout the country. Based on the guidances of the Ministry of Health and other ministries and branches, the People's Committees of provinces and cities shall decide on the appropriate administrative measures, including the specific regulations and instructions on capacity and number of participants in  the activities of production, business, services, culture, arts, events, etc., and can flexibly apply the specific additional measures without contrarying to the regulations of the Central, not obstructing the circulation of goods, production and business, and people's movement and daily life. In case the Central's regulations and guidelines are not suitable and feasible, they shall be promptly reported to the agency promulgating regulations and guidelines. The agency promulgating regulations and guidelines must immediately direct to remove the obstacles and simultaneously research to amend to the regulations and guidelines.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has decided to isolate the areas for medical treatment (lockdown the outbreak) as quickly and as narrowly as possible, and to implement many activities to ensure social welfares and access to medical services in order that people can rest assured to comply with the regulations on the epidemic prevention and control.

The Directives No. 15, No. 16 and No. 19 of the Prime Minister of the Government on the Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control has temporarily not applied.

According to the Resolution No. 128, the World Health Organization, scientists and countries has believed that the Covid-19 epidemic cannot be completely controlled before 2023. It is possible that new strains of the virus are more dangerous, making the epidemic complicated and unpredictable. However, the vaccine coverage and drug treatment help reduce the number of the severe cases, deaths and infections. Therefore, many countries have changed their epidemic response strategies from trying to completely extinguish the epidemic to living safely with the epidemic.

Viet Anh