The directive said the cases, caused by the new coronavirus variant, were believed to be the country’s largest cases of community infection ever with the risk of spreading rapidly on a large scale.

Therefore, to quickly control the pandemic, PM Phuc ordered:

1. Hai Duong Province

Imposing a lockdown on Chi Linh City and strictly applying measures, issued under Directive No 16/CT-Ttg on March 31, 2020 by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

-    Implementing social distancing in the city for 21 days from January 28, 2021.

-    People are told to leave their house only to buy food, medicine, go to work or other emergencies. People are ordered to not gather in groups of more than two people outside offices, schools, hospitals and public places as well as keep a minimum distance of 2 metres when in face-to-face contact with others.

-    Temporarily suspending all schools and entertainment activities, as well as event that gather many people and non-essential services.

-    Temporarily suspending public transport out of Chi Linh City, except in cases of official affairs or other urgent needs. Minimising the operation of personal vehicles. Ensuring smooth operation of goods and materials for production.

-    Heads of production and business establishments are responsible for the implementation of anti-pandemic measures.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong Province is assigned to decide to apply measures to shut down and suspend operations of facilities failing to comply with COVID-19 measures; direct contact tracing, mass testing and concentrated quarantining for suspected cases – including direct contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients – under 21-day quarantine. Based on the level of risk for each area in the province, the chairman will decide to apply measures of social distancing and quarantine under Directive No 15/CT-TTg dated March 27, 2020 and Directive No 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020.

2. Quang Ninh Province

Temporarily suspending the operation of Van Don International Airport from midnight on January 28, 2021.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province is assigned to decide to apply measures to shut down and suspend operations of facilities failing to comply with COVID-19 measures; direct contact tracing, mass testing and concentrated quarantining for suspected cases – including direct contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients – under 21-day quarantine. Based on the level of risk for each area in the province, the chairman will decide to apply measures of social distancing and quarantine under Directive No 15/CT-TTg dated March 27, 2020 and Directive No 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020.

3. Other localities

Chairman of the People’s Committees of centrally-run provinces and cities are told to:

-    Checking and tightening the implementation of anti-pandemic measures in the localities, especially in hospitals, schools, industrial parks, factories and areas where large gatherings occur.

-    Deciding to impose social-distancing measures if needed.

-    Ordering local people to wear masks, avoid congregating in crowds and keeping a distance in public places.

-    Strengthening inspection of implementing measures to prevent and fight against the pandemic and strictly handle violations.

4. The Ministry of Health is ordered to assist Quảng Ninh and Hải Dương to control the outbreak, prepare scenarios and make plans to deal with a worsening situation.

5. The Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Health and local administrations must tighten management of foreign arrivals and strictly handle the illegal entries.

6. Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Television, the Voice of Vietnam, the Vietnam News Agency, media and the People’s Committee of provinces and cities are required to continue issuing updates on the pandemic’s developments to warn people of measures to prevent the spread of the virus./