Fifty five cities and provinces across the country have completed their assessment COVID-19 risk levels as of October 20, following the new guidelines on safe adaption to the pandemic, as outlined by Government Resolution 128/NQ-CP and health ministry's instructions.

The guidelines set out three indicators to assess the level of pandemic risk – the number of new community infections, the coverage of vaccinations, and the ability to receive and treat patients at all levels.

Some announced that they are at Level 1, including Quang Ninh, Lai Chau, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Bac Kan, Dien Bien, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Quang Ninh, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, Dong Nai, Ben Tre, Binh Thuan and Soc Trang, among others.

Da Nang, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Son La, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Tinh, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Dak Lak, Can Tho, Long An, Tien Giang, Bac Lieu, Vinh Long and Binh Phuoc are at Level 2.

Other localities that have not yet officially announced their status like An Giang, Binh Dinh, Gia Lai, Hai Duong, Tay Ninh, etc. but have issued instructions and taken measures to safely live with the pandemic and revive socio-economic development.

Though the capital city of Hanoi has yet to formally declare its risk level, the municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Hanoi) has assessed the city’s first and second indicators (the number of new community infections and vaccine coverage) as Level 1.

The HCM City People's Committee on October 10 asked the health department to soon submit COVID-19 risks assessment of areas in the southern city, which is still seeing an average of 1,000 new cases a day despite high vaccination rate and the reopening plan well under way.

The deadline is set to be October 23, so that the city's authorities can devise COVID-19 measures in line with the spirit of the central Government's guidelines.

Under Resolution 128, the four levels of pandemic risk are as follows: Level 1: low-risk (new normal) – labelled green; Level 2: medium-risk – labelled yellow; Level 3: high-risk – labelled orange and Level 4: very high-risk – labelled red.

Based on instructions from the Ministry of Health, cities and provinces are responsible for raising or lowering their COVID-19 risk levels. If they raise the pandemic assessment risk level, local authorities will inform citizens and businesses at least 48 hours in advance.

Based on the pandemic situation and vaccination rate, localities can specify limits on the number of participants and scope of activities. Priority will be given to those who have received full two doses of vaccine and those who have recovered from COVID-19.

For example, indoor gatherings will not be allowed to take place, or only with a limited number of participants, in red and orange zones, while in green zones there is no limit on the number of participants.

Road, inland waterway and sea passenger transport will have to stop or limit operations in red and orange zones. The frequency of such activities must be reduced in yellow zones.

Inter-provincial and intra-provincial transportation of goods are allowed to operate at all four levels, with strict adherence to pandemic prevention and control measures./.

Source: VNA