(Illustrative photo: VGP)

The Committee agreed to propose to the Prime Minister to extend social distancing state in 19 southern provinces for 14 days, starting August 1. The Committee requested cities and provinces to strictly abide by social distancing rules and manage people traveling in and out of the localities and from pandemic areas to other places, according to Directive 16.

Any locality that allows people to go out of the province must hold responsibility to the Prime Minister.

In case people are traveling home in another province, localities must arrange vehicle to bring them home safely.

The Committee agreed that in the context of complicated pandemic situation in Ho Chi Minh City and adjacent provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Long An, it’s necessary to give the highest priority of vaccine distribution to these provinces to early obtain herd immunity.  

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said: “The Government has discussed and the Prime Minister decided that we need to give the highest priority of vaccine for the southern region to obtain herd immunity at the earliest. The Ministry of Health is assigned to closely work with HCMC’s People’s Committee to review and adjust vaccination procedures. The Ministry of Health will ensure vaccine supply in accordance with HCMC’s vaccination plan to soon achieve herd immunity so that people in HCMC can soon return to work after being vaccinated.”

Deputy Prime Minister Dam noted that provinces and cities while implementing the Prime Minister’s Directive have to ensure people’s living conditions and medical support during social distancing time.