A HCM City resident receives a COVID-19 vaccine at District 11 Hospital. VNA/VNS Photo by Hong Giang

Dam said there would be enough vaccines received by the end of the year to create herd immunity. But in the next few weeks, very few batches of vaccines will arrive, and most of these will be given to HCM City.

On August 9, Vietnam received 590,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, and the Ministry of Health immediately distributed 530,000 doses to the city. As of August 9, the city had received 4.2 million doses of vaccine.

"Controlling the pandemic doesn't mean there will be no new cases. It means protecting and maintaining green zones (COVID-19 free areas) in each province, and isolating the outbreak clusters. The whole region must set up a solid green belt," Dam said.

HCM City was asked to control the outbreak by mid-September, and Dong Nai and Binh Duong by the end of this month, or no later than mid-September.

The less-affected provinces of Soc Trang, Ben Tre, and Binh Phuoc have committed to control the pandemic in the next 10 days, and other southern provinces in the next 20 days.

Dam said that local authorities must focus on expanding green zones. Despite social distancing under the Government’s Directive 16 for 20 days, the number of F0 cases (reported infections) has not decreased, and some provinces have seen rising numbers.

Dam attributed the increase to the fact that many people were not following safe distancing among individuals and families.

Local authorities have also complained that hundreds of people have found ways to pass through checkpoints to return to their hometowns in southern provinces.

Dam said that if localities tightened management during social distancing, the outbreak could be controlled in three or four weeks. If not, social distancing will have to continue.

The Ministry of Health has issued a treatment regimen for patients, classifying five clinical levels: asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe and critical. But local health departments can create their own regimen according to their current situation, according to Dam.

Although Vietnam’s strategy is implementing the dual goals of controlling the pandemic and promoting development, HCM City and southern provinces as well as localities nationwide must pay more attention to controlling the outbreak and protecting the people.

Source: Vietnam News

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