Corona Prevention: Minister of Finance requests strict control of border areas

illustration image. Source: Internet

The directive stated that the disease of acute respiratory infections caused by 2019-nCovwas very complicated, up to January 28, besides China, many countries and territories across the world recorded cases of virus infection, such as: Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Germany, US, France and Australia, with more than 100 dead and upwards of 4,000 cases of infection. The main cases of virus infection were Chinese people or immigrants from China into other countries.

In Directive No. 05/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister dated January 28, 2020 on the prevention and control of 2019-nCov, the Prime Minister instructed ministries, sectors and localities to take caution and do not let epidemics spread out, they must treat epidemic prevention and control as "fighting against the enemy". Besides, mobilising the whole political system must be involved in the prevention and control of epidemics to protect the health, life for the people, minimising deaths caused by this epidemic.

To strengthen measures of preventing and control epidemics from spreading into Vietnam through the exit, entry border gate and import-export route, the Minister of Finance requested heads of units under finance sector urgently run the implementation of Official Letter No. 121/CD-TTg dated January 23, 2020 and Directive No. 05/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister.

"It is necessary to consider the prevention of 2019-nCov as a key task, closely coordinating with the ministries and sectors at the central level and local authoritiess to ensure the readiness for coping with cases of epidemic prevention and combat, minimising deaths; ensure funding for disease prevention as prescribed by law," the directive said.

The minister requested the General Department of Vietnam Customs direct the provincial customs departments to strengthen strict control and supervision at border gates, trails and opening roads at border areas for people and means of transport originating from countries which have faced acute respiratory infections caused by 2019-nCov.

Along with that is coordinating with authorities to stop carrying out customs procedures for people and vehicles entering through trails and openings with China and not carrying out customs procedures for flights from Vietnam to endemic areas of China and flights from affected regions to Vietnam under the direction of the Prime Minister.

For meat and food products processed from animals imported from China, they must be strictly controlled at the border gate, the customs authority only clears the goods after obtaining quarantine certificates and certificates of food hygiene and safety from inspection authorities certified that they are eligible for import; coordinate with border medical examination agencies in areas of land, sea, air, rail and inland border gates to inspect passengers and luggage from foreign countries and territories that have a warning about corona virus infection.

In case of detecting or suspecting infection, customs authority should hand over to the medical agency.

The minister also requested the General Department of Vietnam Customs provide equipment and vehicles to serve border customs officials to ensure safety in task performance; directing forces to strengthen anti-smuggling, closely coordinating with local authorities in preventing, investigating and handling violations for the cases of entry illegal or illegally transporting wildlife and goods across borders; facilitate and quickly clear goods, machines, equipment, auxiliary devices and pharmaceuticals serving for prevention and treatment of 2019-nCov.

Regarding funding related to disease prevention, the directive stated that the Department of Administrative Affairs, the State Budget Department and other units should work based on the State Budget Law and the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 121/CD-TTg dated January 23, 2020, Directive No. 05/CT-TTg dated January 28, 2020 guiding the allocation of funding for epidemic prevention and control in strict compliance with provisions of law and of the Government and the Prime Minister.

At the same time, the General Department of Reserves should prepare national reserve goods to be provided to ministries, sectors and localities for epidemic outbreaks upon request.