The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control agreed with the Ministry of Health's proposal to adjust COVID-19 from group A to group B; at the same time, assigned the Ministry of Health to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice to consider and declare the end of the epidemic according to the provisions of law.
For the first time, Vietnam prevents and controls dangerous group A infectious diseases on a national scale.
The Government Office issued Document No. 231/TB-VPCP dated June 19, 2023 announcing the conclusion of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control at the 20th online meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with localities.
The document clearly states that for the first time, Vietnam has prevented and controlled a dangerous infectious disease of group A on a national scale, in unprecedented and prolonged conditions (from the beginning of 2020 until now). This is a pandemic with extremely complicated developments, causing serious consequences, deeply affecting the socio-economy and posing a great challenge to all levels, sectors, localities, units, especially the health sector and in the context that Vietnam still has many shortages and limitations in resources and funding, has not been proactive in providing treatment drugs and vaccines, many legal regulations are still inadequate, not suitable to reality, especially the urgent requirements for disease prevention and control.
With a global, all-people approach, our country has both prevented and fought the pandemic and summarized and drawn lessons from experience. In the fight against COVID-19, there has been not only the leadership of the Politburo and key leaders, especially General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, but also the proactive, flexible, creative and effective direction, management and implementation of the National Steering Committee.
Synchronously deploy 3 pillars of epidemic prevention and control (isolation, testing, treatment)
The National Steering Committee has concluded a number of theoretical and practical measures and methods such as: harmoniously, reasonably and effectively combining administrative measures and scientific measures; synchronously deploying the three pillars of epidemic prevention and control (isolation, testing, treatment); developing and appropriately deploying the epidemic prevention and control formula "5K + vaccine + medicine + technology + people's awareness and other measures"; proposing policies and effectively implementing the Vaccine Strategy including: Vaccine Fund, vaccine diplomacy and organizing the largest free vaccination campaign in history.
With the participation of the entire political system, together with drastic and synchronous implementation of appropriate solutions, the COVID-19 epidemic has been gradually prevented, repelled and effectively controlled, contributing significantly to creating conditions for comprehensive socio-economic recovery and development in all fields, which has been recognized and highly appreciated by the people and the international community. Thanks to controlling the epidemic, our country has opened the domestic economy on October 11, 2021, opened to the international market from March 15, 2022 and then successfully organized the 32nd SEA Games in Hanoi and some surrounding provinces, contributing significantly to strong socio-economic recovery in 2022.
This victory is the victory of the people under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. On behalf of the Government and the National Steering Committee, the Prime Minister respectfully thanks the close attention and timely leadership and direction of the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, directly by Comrade General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the companionship of the National Assembly, the coordination of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; the support, engagement, sharing, trust, and active participation of all classes of people, the business community, and the support and assistance of international friends in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, the country has suffered many losses and sacrifices, including more than 43,100 deaths. Once again, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, the Prime Minister sent his deepest condolences and regards to the families of those who lost their lives due to COVID-19, especially those whose relatives died while participating in the fight against the pandemic.
Practices in preventing and combating COVID-19 leave many valuable lessons
The practice of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic has left many valuable lessons in directing and operating the socio-economy, especially in the work of caring for and protecting people's health: (1) Always put the interests of the people, their lives and health first and foremost; (2) Always proactively prevent and fight the pandemic early, from afar, right from the grassroots level; consider communes and wards as "fortresses" and "battlefields"; be ready in all aspects and have scientific plans and scenarios to ensure effective response to all situations, not to be passive or surprised; (3) Always pay attention to ensuring social security and people's lives in all epidemic situations; (4) Resolutely operate with synchronous, flexible, appropriate and practical solutions, while focusing on promoting the responsibility of leaders, promoting the proactiveness and creativity of all levels, sectors and localities associated with the specific characteristics of sectors, fields and areas; (5) Ensure close coordination and mutual support among relevant sectors and localities in the spirit of "unanimity from top to bottom, and transparency across the board"; mobilize forces, agencies and units to support each other when there is an urgent request or there is insufficient on-site force...
Adjusting COVID-19 from group A to group B
The National Steering Committee agrees with the Ministry of Health's proposal to adjust COVID-19 from group A to group B.
The National Steering Committee requests ministries, branches and localities to: (1) Summarize and evaluate the epidemic prevention and control work in the sector, field and locality, send the results to the Ministry of Health in June 2023 for synthesis, develop a report of the National Steering Committee, submit to the Prime Minister for consideration, decision and report to competent authorities; (2) Continue to study the 7 recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to apply appropriately to the epidemic situation in Vietnam; (3) Develop a COVID-19 prevention and control plan suitable to the new situation, especially strengthening grassroots health care, preventive medicine and mobilizing and using resources; (4) Continue to promote the spirit of solidarity, overcome the consequences of the epidemic that may still last, stabilize people's lives, especially for those suffering the consequences and impacts of the pandemic, especially orphans; (5) Continue to complete the handling of outstanding issues related to epidemic prevention and control in the past time; (6) Honor and reward collectives and individuals with achievements in epidemic prevention and control; promptly resolve policies and regimes for those participating in epidemic prevention and control according to the conclusions and directions of the Central Government, the National Assembly, and the Government; at the same time, prevent and combat corruption and negativity, strictly handle violations and profiteering; (7) Strengthen propaganda, dissemination, raise vigilance, clarify the differences between group A and group B epidemics to have appropriate measures; (8) Handle policies according to authority when changing the status from group A to group B epidemics.
Effective implementation of social security work
The National Steering Committee requests the Ministry of Health to: (1) Adjust the COVID-19 disease from group A to group B according to its authority; (2) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice to review and declare the end of the epidemic according to the provisions of law; (3) Instruct ministries, branches and localities to review, proactively implement or propose competent authorities to amend or abolish regulations related to epidemic prevention and control; (4) Complete the Plan for sustainable control and management of the COVID-19 epidemic for the period 2023-2025, in which attention is paid to preparing necessary conditions to respond to possible pandemics and the possible return of the COVID-19 epidemic; (5) Research and deploy COVID-19 vaccination in accordance with the situation and vaccinate against COVID-19 annually in the National Expanded Immunization Program; in cases beyond its authority, report to the Prime Minister for consideration.
The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs continues to effectively implement social security work, especially for those affected by the pandemic.
The People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities direct specialized agencies to review the epidemic situation and declare the end of the epidemic in the area according to their authority based on the guidance of the Ministry of Health and regulations of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.
The National Steering Committee has successfully completed its tasks after 20 meetings. The consolidation and establishment of a new Steering Committee for epidemic prevention and control will be carried out in accordance with the situation and current regulations.
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