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“Why is the Chinese Politburo meeting on New Year’s Eve? Why block Wuhan” … – The government has raised a number of questions to counter the position when international experts say Covid-19 is not too much dangerous.
The minister, chairman of the government office, Mai Tien Dung, shared in an interview VnExpress on anti-epidemic measures in 2020 and directions for the future.
– In early 2020, when Covid-19 first broke out in Wuhan and did not yet have an official name, what was the basis for Government implementation of epidemic control at a level higher than that recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) at that time?
– The Covid-19 pandemic came from Wuhan, China. Before Lunar New Year 2020, international experts said the epidemic was not transmitted from person to person. However, when the government discussed this, we countered this view. We believe that this is not true and that Vietnam must take preventive measures early.
If the epidemic is not dangerous, does not spread from person to person, why should the Politburo meet on the first day of the Lunar New Year? If the epidemic was not dangerous, why did China decide to blockade the city of Wuhan? If not for the danger, why did more than 5 million people from Wuhan try to leave the city in response to the blockade, when these people are mostly informed people with economic conditions? Why did China have to quickly establish two large field hospitals, Hoa Than Son and Lei Shenshan, in Wuhan? Why did the number of infected people, the number of deaths, increase rapidly at that time? …
Therefore, the Government Office has informed that the Prime Minister must implement epidemic prevention measures superior to the WHO recommendations. On the afternoon of the third day of the Lunar New Year, the Prime Minister chaired the meeting and delivered messages against the epidemic. Prime Minister’s Official Letter No. 05, issued on January 28, 2020, the fourth day of the Canh Ty Lunar New Year, has outlined many drastic measures, such as the temporary suspension of Vietnam’s flight licenses to epidemic areas. China and vice versa; prevention of epidemics for passengers in means of transport; The Ministry of Health was in charge of completing the response scenario to epidemics, ensuring medicines, medical equipment …
The Prime Minister also soon issued an order “to fight epidemics as against the enemy”, the entire army and all the people must participate in this. During the past year, reality has shown that without the best efforts of the army and police as well as the team of doctors and medical personnel, our prevention against Covid-19 would not be possible. can be successful.
The successful control of Covid-19 makes Vietnam one of the few countries in the world that maintains positive growth, while many countries have negative growth.
Minister, Head of Government Office Mai Tien Dung. Image: Vermont
– How did the government debate to put in place drastic measures against the epidemic in the first place?
During the one-year epidemic, there are times of stress and anxiety. For example, in the meeting we mentioned the problem of border closure, closure of open roads, but this is not simple. Many critics why close, close and then reopen? Even the issue of stopping flights to China, or later epidemic areas in Japan, Korea, Europe, America … was discussed in a similar way.
If Directive 15, 16 of the Prime Minister (end of March 2020) does not foresee drastic measures, especially social gap, the situation may not be the same as today.
Let us remember that in February there were only 16 cases, but within 20 days (from March 6 to 26), there were 137 new cases in 23 provinces and cities, bringing the total number to 153. What is worrying is that there have been a contagious phenomenon with health workers, infection in the community, especially in some large cities.
At that time, the Prime Minister asked to implement a series of measures in Directive 15, in particular to suspend the operation of service establishments, except establishments that market essential goods and services; continue to strictly monitor all entry cases. Until Directive 16, the Prime Minister requested social quarantine within 15 days. These two directives only 3 days apart showed the sense of urgency at the time.
In addition, the government drastically led a series of measures in a short time, such as requiring that all passengers entering Vietnam be isolated for 14 days from the end of March; suspension of entry to foreign countries (except experts, diplomats, public servants) and Vietnamese people and their families from the end of March 2020; Stop all trade routes with other countries from the beginning of April …
– The demand for social isolation, although necessary to combat the epidemic, as he said, provoked many different interpretations at that time. Looking back now, what do you explain about the use of this concept?
– At that time, how to use words about social isolation or social distance is very difficult, because this is a completely new problem. But this requirement can be understood as “who lives in that house, what commune in that commune, what district is in that district” … At the same time, if the authorities detect where the case is, it must be managed, located there, on the basis of “big fire, one fire, small fire.” Therefore, we can prevent epidemics, restore and develop our economy.
Looking back at those dates, we can see that the instructions from the authorities on each particular issue were correct and necessary. If Vietnam followed international recommendations at the time, it would be difficult to predict everything that could happen. Because if a large-scale epidemic breaks out, we will have a medical equipment crisis. There are 5,000 ventilators throughout the country, but they are distributed by hospitals. If the outbreak is large, where to get the medical team to treat it. At that time, it will be difficult to avoid the serious effects on people’s health and lives.
From the early days of fighting the epidemic, the Prime Minister sent a message that we must “make financial sacrifices” to protect people’s health and lives. With the right policy, we have successfully controlled the epidemic, which is why we have welcomed many foreign nationals trapped abroad. Vietnam also allows experts, investors and companies to start businesses, businesses and investments.
– In 2021, what is the Government’s policy against Covid-19 and socio-economic development, sir?
– In 2020, the Prime Minister has made the determination to achieve the double goal, focusing on restoring socio-economic development, and at the same time strictly preventing epidemics, preventing epidemics from raging in life.
During this process, the Government has created very favorable conditions to encourage foreign companies and investors to invest in Vietnam. When they enter, the process goes through very quickly. The Government Office receives the application and only processes it in 1-2 days to notify the entry. The agencies that issue visas, work permits, quarantine management … are coordinated very quickly. This policy has been successful in 2020.
For this reason, in 2021, the Government continues to advocate for the drastic implementation of the double objective, which is both the strict prevention of epidemics, especially at land borders, the management of immigration … production and business development. Vietnam cannot shut down completely so that there is not a Covid-19 case that needs to be prevented, but it still needs to develop socioeconomically.
As for vaccines, Vietnam and several countries have already produced and also tested in humans. I think that the domestic units that can produce vaccines are very good, to take the initiative in the supply. But if there is no early vaccine, the spirit of the Prime Minister’s direction is to keep shopping abroad. When there is a vaccine, the government will encourage people to inject themselves. Who are prioritized to inject, and what policies will be specific at that time. Political families, people with meritorious services, poor households … can propose to the Prime Minister appropriate policies to support vaccination.
