Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 2 asked local authorities to consider disciplines and criminal penalties if needed for people who violate pandemic prevention regulations.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a meeting on May 2. Photo: VGP

“Authorities in Danang, Ha Nam and Yen Bai need to impose different sanctions to individuals and organizations flouting the rules against Covid-19,” Chinh said at a meeting on May 2.

The request was made following the local transmission of dozens of Covid-19 cases in the three aforementioned localities since April 29 caused by negligence of some people.

Chinh made the request in addition with directing health sector to offer the best treatment to infected people.

Covid-19 resurged in Vietnam as a resident in the northern province of Ha Nam violated home quarantine after finishing the concentrated 14-day quarantine period.

In another move, a group of five Chinese experts who violated quarantine regulations and go to some cities and provinces across Vietnam instead of being under health supervision at the company they were working for already exited the country.

A number of authorities in Danang, Ha Nam, and Yen Bai are related to the violations.

The initial cases have caused infection to more than 20 others in different localities nationwide, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Regarding to the violation of safety rules, in March 2021, an attendant of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines was handed two-year sentence with probation for spreading infectious diseases as stipulated in the Penal Code.

Under Vietnam Law, the maximum penalty for a defendant charged with spreading communicable diseases to human would be 15 years behind bars and/or a fine up to VND200 million (US$8,700).

As of May 3, Vietnam has confirmed 2,962 infections, including 2,549 convalescents. Half of the total cases are locally-transmitted.