Gov’t chief allows resumption of non-essential services

VGP  – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to allow non-essential service establishments, except for discos and karaoke parlors, to resume operations but they have to maintain preventive measures.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presides over a meeting on COVID019 prenvetion and control in Ha Noi on May 7, 2020. Photo: VGP

The decision was made the a meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control this morning after three weeks without new community transmission case of COVID-19.

The Government chief also decided mask wearing and social distancing are not mandatory for students in classrooms but students are advised to maintain personal hygiene and regularly wash hands with antibacterial soap or sanitizer.

Doors and windows should be opened at times to facilitate air circulation while classrooms must be clean, PM Phuc added.

He asked each citizen and business to get used to “new normal” in order to gradually restart socio-economic activities as usual.

As the COVID-19 pandemic still remains complicated across the world, Phuc tasked competent authorities to continue measures to prevent importation of new cases, including compulsory 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers.

Steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control needs to continue maintain fast-response teams to timely trace, isolate and handle positive cases and those who have been in close contact with them, the PM said.

Mask wearing remains mandatory at public places and on crowded transport vehicles, Phuc ordered.

Regarding customs clearance, PM Phuc agreed to allow reopening of some minor border checkpoints and border crossings in Lang Son and Quang Ninh at the proposals of the two provinces that share borderline with China.

For other border provinces, the local authorities can decide themselves in a cautious and meticulous manner whether to reopen their minor border checkpoints and border crossings provided that measures and procedures for COVID-19 prevention and control are strictly observed.

Minor border checkpoints and border crossings are only reopened in case of huge volume of goods, especially agricultural and aquatic products and materials for domestic production./.

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