Business associations petition PM for “spot-based” COVID-19 fight strategy

Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)

Fourteen business associations from multiple key industries have co-signed a petition sent to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other governmental leaders proposing a “spot-based” strategy for COVID-19 fight so as to facilitate the safe resumption of production and business in the “new normal.”

Social distancing and lockdown on a large scale have caused tonnes of troubles for enterprises and this should not go on any longer, says the petition. The business associations welcome the PM’s viewpoint on the need to adapt to and live with the COVID-19.

They put forward a series of measures to be taken uniformly nationwide in the petition, urging the PM to issue a new directive on COVID-19 prevention and control suitable for the new stance and the “new normal” situation in replace of the old ones.

They suggest the government to allow people with negative coronavirus test results to resume travel and social interactions, except for joining mass gatherings, irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated or not.

Businesses, organisations and inpiduals should be allowed to conduct virus testing themselves and make health declarations on the national digital system; and must take legal responsibility for their declarations, they propose.

Businesses should also be authorized to make their own arrangements on how the production and operation be run to prevent the COVID-19 spread, the petition notes, adding that businesses should not be shut down when infections occur on a small scale.

The government also needs to set up special task forces which monitor the movement of goods and prevent congestion via hotlines, while cities and provinces should have working groups, which include members from the local Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control and have direct contact with the PM’s special working group, to promptly help business fix problems.

The petition also notes the need to have more representatives from the business community in Steering Committees on COVID-19 Prevention and Control of localities.

The associations suggest establishing mobile and fixed medical stations inside and outside industrial parks. The government should firmly request localities to prioritise vaccinating factory workers, shippers, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.

They underlined the necessity to impose lockdown and isolation based on hot spots such as residential zones, production and services units, or places where COVID-19 cases are detected, instead of geographical areas.

They recommend the Ministry of Health to issue an official guideline detailing how factories and businesses conduct COVID-19 tests.

They urge the PM to order lifting of restrictions on transport of goods between regions. They also suggested the State budget cover COVID-19 testing and treatment costs for the uninsured while health insurance holders should have these costs fully covered.

They also propose for exemption and reduction of multiple taxes, fees and electricity and water bills to help the affected businesses weather the COVID-19 crisis./.