Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Government Office on late April 3 issued a document detailing the instructions on theimplementation of the Prime Minister’s Directive 16 regarding a 14-day nationwidestay-at-home order and social distancing measures starting April 1 to deal withthe COVID-19 pandemic.

The directive, which theGovernment insisted does not constitute a stringent lockdown given that thenumber of cases in the country remains quite modest, has caused quite a lot ofconfusion among the public and even local authorities about the scope andintensity of the restrictions to be implemented.

The instruction document noted that “anumber of the directive’s contents have not been fully understood and uniformlyimplemented,” referring to surfacing reports of a number of provinces andcities across the country taking the order a step too far, setting upcheckpoints at their gateway and imposing a ban on travel to and from theirjurisdiction.

Factories and production units,traffic and construction sites, and organisations supplying essential goods andservices – food, medicine, oil and gas, utility, energy, etc. – will stilloperate normally.

Banks, treasury offices, stocktrading floors, and other services directly related to banking activities andbusinesses – notaries, lawyering, registration, or secured transactions – arealso allowed to open. Post offices, logistics services, funeral services andhealthcare services can also still operate.

The executives of theseorganisations are asked to ensure safety and anti-outbreak measures in linewith health ministry’s guidelines – compulsory health declarations, limitingtravel and face-to-face interactions, halting unnecessary activities andreducing the concentration of workers in limited space, and organisingtransport to carry workers to and from workplaces.

The document however noted thatit’s up to each province and city administration’s discretion to make a list ofwhat services and businesses would need to be temporarily shuttered.

According to the document,people are asked to practise social distancing, stay home and refrain fromgoing outside, unless in case of necessities: buying food, medicine and seekingessential goods and services; health examination and treatment, medicalemergencies or disasters; or working in State agencies, diplomatic missions,armed forces, and above-mentioned establishments that are still allowed to open.

Everyone must wear face masksin public and frequently wash their hands with soap or alcoholic sanitisers.

Gatherings of more than twopeople in public are disallowed and maintenance of a minimum distance of 2m isrequired.

Public transport is “basically”halted, except in cases of official missions, transporting workers, experts,people subject to quarantine, transporting materials and goods.

Personal vehicles are heavilyrestricted.

The document also asked formeasures in place to ensure “interrupted” movement of goods and materials, anddemanded that all localities immediately cease their prohibitions of vehiclesand people coming through their jurisdiction.

The leadership of allorganisations, units, and businesses are supposed to provide favourableconditions for their workers to work from home within their capacity, avoidingdelayed progress especially in urgent matters or public services.

Concerned ministries, agenciesand localities shall take “proactive initiative” in adjusting anti-epidemicmeasures, ensuring compliance with the directive and accompanying instructions;coordinate and address problems arising according to their authority; strictlydeal with violations; and promptly report to the Prime Minister on any problemsthat might arise./.