Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested competent authorities to have a roadmap for the safe repatriation of Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad due to the ongoing pandemic.

The request was made while Phuc was addressing a meeting on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevention and control in Hanoi on Friday morning.

Vietnam has gone a month without a new community infection case of COVID-19. The country’s patient tally is at 314, with 260 recoveries and no deaths.

There have been 44 new cases in Vietnam since April 16, all of which were imported, including 17 cases returning from the United Arab Emirates, 24 from Russia, two from Japan, and one from the UK.

The last infection detected in the community was a 16-year-old Vietnamese girl from the northern province of Ha Giang, who had been quarantined since April 7 and was confirmed to be infected with the virus on April 16.

According to PM Phuc, many more Vietnamese citizens are wishing to return home.

Against that backdrop, Phuc urged for maintaining vigilance as the danger of importation of new cases remains as international flights are bound to resume.

A roadmap is thus needed to ensure both safe repatriation of citizens and the country’s domestic conditions, he said.

On the other hand, the PM advised overseas Vietnamese to remain in their host countries.

In addition, he asked for the control of residents’ cross-border traveling on roads to be maintained and strengthened.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presides over a meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control on May 15, 2020. Photo: VGP News

Regarding economic revitalization, Phuc reaffirmed the government’s determination to foster growth as evident in the deployment of a number of measures, including facilitating the entry of experts, skilled workers, business managers and investors.

According to the government leader, Vietnam has “gained initial success in realizing the dual targets of containing the disease and promoting production and business.”

Phuc also hailed the timely implementation of support packages to help the society and its people regain life balance post-COVID-19.

The government chief also emphasized the importance of rebooting production, import and export, and tourism — including both domestic tourism and welcoming international tourists from countries that have had effective responses to the pandemic.

International cooperation on COVID-19 prevention should also be boosted.

The Prime Minister urged for a new disease prevention strategy that is both effective in medical terms and economically sustainable for a long-run fight against COVID-19 in the absence of an effective vaccine.

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