PRESS RELEASE On COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention and Control in Can Tho City (July 18th, 2021)

As of today, to implement Official Document No. 969/TTg-KGVX dated July 17^th, 2021 of the Prime Minister on the implementation of social distancing to prevent and control the pandemic in some localities, Can Tho City has decided and announced the implementation of the Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31^st, 2020 of the Prime Minister on urgent measures to prevent and control COVID-19 pandemic throughout the city within 14 days from 0:00 o'clock on July 19^th, 2021 to 0:00 o'clock on August 02^nd, 2021.

Three districts namely Ninh Kieu, Binh Thuy and Cai Rang will accordingly prolong the time of the implementation of the Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31^st, 2020 of the Prime Minister on urgent measures to prevent and control COVID-19 pandemic until 0:00 o'clock on August 02^nd, 2021.

To be continuously proactive in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city areas, on July 18^th, 2021, the city's functional departments and the local volunteer forces continued implementing the following tasks: tracing, zoning, isolating and treating COVID-19 cases, strictly controlled at the exit and entry of the city. At the same time, three districts namely Ninh Kieu, Binh Thuy and Cai Rang have set up checkpoints, actively propagated and strictly handled cases of violations of regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control. In addition, the city has focused on directions to overcome limitations, flexibly operate and quickly solve arising problems, especially through people's opinions in coordination, organization and implementation of the social distancing.

After 06 days of implementing the social distancing according to the Directive No. 15/CT-TTg and Directive No. 16/CT-TTg in the city areas; in general, most people and businesses have understood and obeyed the regulations well; agreed with the city on the decision to implement the social distancing; not many penalties for violations have been recorded.

The operation of traditional markets, residential markets and temporary markets in districts implementing the Directive No. 16/CT-TTg (Ninh Kieu, Cai Rang and Binh Thuy) has been temporarily suspended. Instead, supermarkets, convenience stores, online sales service systems...that ensure the conditions for pandemic prevention and control are allowed to operate to serve the people. In general, up to now, goods have been supplied in sufficient quantities, prices are stable, and there is no longer the phenomenon of purchasing goods to stock up as in the early days of the lockdown. At the same time, supermarkets and convenience stores such as: Co.op Mart, Satra Food, Bach Hoa Xanh, Vinmart+,... have increased staff, advised people to follow the Directive well and switched to online shopping and additionally developed plans to promptly replenish goods to serve the shopping needs of people.

Implementing the Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP dated July 01^st, 2021 of the Government on supporting employees and employers facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has directed relevant authorities to urgently review the list, quickly carry out the procedures, organize the timely allocation of supports to eligible subjects.

On the number of COVID-19 cases in the city, as of 4:00 p.m. today (July 18^th, 2021), the city has recorded 138 cases and 19 new cases on July 18^th, 2021 only. The city's functional departments continue to urgently track, trace, zone, take samples for testing and isolate related cases.

In the upcoming time, when the whole city implements the Directive 16/CT-TTg, we will surely face many difficulties and hardships. In order to achieve the goal of pandemic prevention and control, ensure the safety of people's health and lives, promptly return the city to a normal state; Can Tho city calls on the whole political system, its citizens and businesses to continue to join hands with it; strictly abide and comply with the provisions of the law, recommendations of health authorities and the city's regulations on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuous trust, support, share and hands joining with the city are encouraged with the highest determination to control ,end the pandemic and soon return the city to the new normal state.

(Translated from the Vietnamese version)