(VOVWORLD) -Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday agreed to impose a 2-week social distancing period in accordance with Directive 16 on Can Tho city and the remaining 15 provinces of the southern region in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases.
 (Illustrative photo: VNA)
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The Chairperson of the Provincial People's Committee will decide the time to start these strict measures before 0:00 hour on Monday. Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai are now already in the social distancing period.
The Prime Minister requested that during social distancing, localities pay attention to social security work, ensure timely and adequate supply of food and other necessities for locals, especially the poor, those in difficult circumstances, and those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Security and social order must be protected. Safe production and circulation of goods within the province, city and with other localities must be ensured, the Prime Minister said.
The 16 southern localities to impose social distancing are Can Tho city and Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Long An, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Kien Giang provinces.
According to the Health Ministry, on Saturday Vietnam confirmed 3,718 new cases of COVID-19. Ho Chi Minh City had the most cases (2,786), followed by southern provinces: Dong Thap (180), Long An (134), Dong Nai (107), Vinh Long (42), Ben Tre (34), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (23), Tra Vinh (15), Binh Phuoc (10) , An Giang (8 ), Soc Trang (6), and Can Tho (6).