HCMC - Strictly applied social distancing helps prevent cross-infection in the community, thus preventing Covid-19 from surging strongly in Vietnam, stated Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a Government’s meeting on April 6.

Phuc asked local authorities nationwide to continue applying social distancing until mid-April. After April 15, the Government will issue further notices, depending on how the pandemic develops. The prime minister spoke highly of localities and citizens’ efforts in practicing social distancing, which have helped bring Covid-19 under control. However, he stressed, “We should not be careless.” Besides social distancing, the country is still applying other measures such as early identification of cases and contacts, early diagnosis and early isolation; identifying “patients zero,” who are the first cases to be infected with the virus and spread it to others; and preventing two “super spreaders”---Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi and Buddha Bar in HCMC---from continuing to spread the disease. “We must prevent imported infections, treat domestic infections and minimize fatalities,” Phuc remarked. The prime minister asked government agencies and localities to prepare stronger measures in case the situation worsens. “Many countries such as China, Singapore and Japan are struggling with the coronavirus and have taken stronger measures,” he stated. Localities with a large number of industrial zones must ensure workers strictly comply with coronavirus infection prevention and control measures and prepare field hospitals for quarantine and treatment. Local authorities must continue suspending religious gatherings. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for helping Vietnamese citizens stuck at foreign airports to return home. Vietnam has reported 245 coronavirus cases so far and 95 of them have recovered.