Bac Giang suspends operation of four industrial zones for COVID-19 control

Bac Giang Province authorities have decided to suspend the operation of four local industrial parks while applying medical blockade to Viet Yen District and three communes in Yen Dung District to stamp out COVID-19.

Spraying disinfectants onto doctors treating COVID-19 patients in Bac Giang. (Photo: NDO/Tue Lam)
Spraying disinfectants onto doctors treating COVID-19 patients in Bac Giang. (Photo: NDO/Tue Lam)

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The decision took effect from 0:00 on May 18 on the four industrial parks of Van Trung, Quang Chau, Dinh Tram and Song Khe - Noi Hoang until further notice from the People's Committee of Bac Giang Province.

Local people are required to stay at home, only going out in case of necessity such as buying food, medicine or working at factories, service business establishments and essential services that are not closed. A safe distance of at least two metres is suggested, while gatherings of more than two people outside of offices, schools and hospitals or in public places are not allowed.

Bac Giang Police is tasked to coordinate with the People's Committees in the districts of Viet Yen and Yen Dung to direct the establishment of checkpoints from 0:00 on May 18, while carrying gut strict control over blocked areas.

On May 17, in some provinces and cities, new COVID-19 cases continued to be recorded, with all related to previously announced outbreaks. Epidemic prevention and control activities are promoted to improve capacity of tracing, isolating, examining and treating COVID-19 patients.

Bac Ninh Province has required businesses in local industrial zones to temporarily stop using workers from the neighbouring province of Bac Giang. As of 0:00 on May 17, workers from Bac Giang are allowed to temporarily leave their jobs and practice self-isolation at home and perform health checks and monitoring until further notice. Additionally, those who have travelled to, stayed in and returned from industrial zones in Bac Giang from May 3 are called on to immediately isolate themselves at home and contact the nearest health agencies or the COVID-19 hotlines for advice and support.

Hai Phong has requested the local authorities and agencies to direct businesses under their management to review the entire list of workers and employees from the provinces and cities with COVID-19 outbreaks, including Da Nang, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh, from May 1 to manage and take samples for testing and screening.

Quang Nam requested the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) of Quang Nam and local medical centres to take samples for COVID-19 screening tests for candidates running for the upcoming election of the People's Councils at all levels, as well as medical staff, patients and their family members in the whole province from May 17.

Medical workers collect samples from locals in Quang Nam Province. (Photo: NDO/Quoc Viet)

At noon on May 17, leading health experts held an online meeting to discuss the best treatment plan for four severely-ill COVID-19 patients. At the consultation, leading hospitals in intensive care were asked to review their capacity in the resuscitation of lower-level hospitals in their directing system as assigned by the Ministry of Health. At the same time, such hospitals must prepare plans to train high technology transfer such as dialysis and ECMO so that the lower facilities can implement at local level for treating COVID-19 patients.

Strengthening anti-epidemic resources

On the afternoon of May 17, the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee agreed on the policy of spending an additional 70% of the current allowance and fostering for the city's forces participating in the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control from the local budget. The City People's Committee was assigned to report to the Prime Minister for consideration.

On the same day, the Hanoi People's Committee issued an official letter to report to the Prime Minister on additional support for forces participating in the prevention and control of COVID-19. Specifically, the Hanoi People's Committee requested the Prime Minister’s consideration and approval for the city to spend additional support for the beneficiaries at a rate equal to 70% (at the maximum level) of the expenditure level set by the Government and the capital city People's Council. The application period for this policy is from May 1, 2021.

Nam Po District People's Committee in Dien Bien Province has decided to allocate VND900 million from the local budget to serve the prevention and control of the epidemic.

On May 17, the Red Cross Society of Da Nang City distributed 2,000 bags of household goods, at a total budget of nearly VND400 million, to disadvantaged households in isolated areas and poor and near-poor households who are suffering from COVID-19.

On the same day, Dong Nai Provincial General Hospital received two ventilators worth more than VND1.5 billion from Sonadezi Corporation. The corporation and its member units have contributed medical machinery and equipment for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic with more than VND7.5 billion.

On the afternoon of May 17, a delegation from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour visited and worked with the Labour Confederations in the provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang on the situations of local workers amid COVID-19. On the occasion, the delegation gave support to union members, workers and employees of the two provinces, with Bac Ninh receiving VND100 million and Bac Giang VND200 million.

Yen Bai medical staff set off to participate in supporting Bac Giang Province to fight the COVID-19 epidemic. (Photo: NDO/Thanh Son)

On May 17, the People's Committee of Yen Bai Province sent a delegation of 15 medical staff to support Bac Giang Province in taking control of the epidemic. In addition, Yen Bai also supported Bac Giang with 2,000 COVID-19 test kits.

Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has decided to donate a total of VND1.5 billion to support the localities of Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Da Nang in the prevention and control of the epidemic.

On May 17, Central Retail Vietnam Group presented the two provinces of Bac Giang and Vinh Phuc with essential items worth VND150 million and five tonnes of fruit and vegetables, joining hands with local doctors and nurses to fight against COVID-19 epidemic.

On the afternoon of May 17, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hai Duong Province decided to deduct from the province's "All people support the fight against COVID-19 epidemic" fund to support the two neighbouring provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang with VND2 billion each.

At a meeting on the evening of May 17, Da Nang City decided to support provide Bac Giang and Bac Ninh with 6,000 biological SARS-CoV-2 test products, equivalent to VND3 billion each.

The Ministry of Defence has directed the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Centre to coordinate with Military Region 1 to send a mission to support Bac Giang Province in fighting COVID-19 epidemic. The delegation includes seven staff members and a mobile testing vehicle capable of testing up to 450 samples per day.