Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered thedrastic implementation of concentrated quarantine in the fight against theacute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Chairing a workingsession between permanent cabinet members and the national steering committeefor COVID-19 prevention and control on February 27, PM Phuc stressed thenecessity to carry out compulsory quarantine for those who come fromcoronavirus-hit regions.

Vietnam does not closeborder gates and airports, or bans travelling, but all people coming fromdisease-hit areas must be quarantined to prevent the spread of the disease, heemphasised.

The Ministry ofForeign Affairs and relevant agencies are responsible for explaining thequarantine policy for these cases, while advising Vietnamese citizens to followtheir host countries’ guidance, the PM said.

The Government leaderalso asked for the postponement of big festivals and conferences across thecountry to avoid mass gatherings.

Regarding students’schooling which has been suspended since February, he assigned the Minister ofEducation and Training to work with the People’s Committees of provinces andcities to decide what suitable time they can come back to school to ensureeffective study and absolute safety.

The PM cited forecastsas saying that COVID-19 will be well controlled in the second quarter of 2020and the world economy will get better in the next few months.

Therefore, PM Phucrequired ministries, sectors and localities to take actions to fulfill allsocio-economic development targets assigned by the Party and the NationalAssembly, and prepare for breakthrough growth in the second quarter.

He suggested reducinginterest rates, taxes and logistics fees, and rescheduling debts as concretemeasures to support the national economy.

The leader alsocongratulated the country’s doctors and medical staff on the occasion of the 65th Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27), and lauded their efforts in the fightagainst COVID-19.

Deputy Minister of HealthDo Xuan Tuyen said that as of 9am on February 27, all 16 SARS-CoV-2-infectedpatients in Vietnam were successfully treated and discharged from hospitals.

Ninety-two suspectedcases are being quarantined while 5,474 others who entered Vietnam fromaffected areas and had close contact with the infected patients are undermedical supervision, he said.

Since February 13, nomore new infection cases have been recorded in the country, Tuyen said./.