PM Pham Minh Chinh chairs the online meeting (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at an online working session between the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and representatives from ministries and agencies, the PM ordered scenarios to guarantee safety during the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026.

He said under the Party leadership and with joint efforts of the Government and authorities at all levels and people, Vietnam has basically contained the pandemic.

Chinh said the new locally-transmitted infections were partially due to the lax attitude of many localities, authorities, Party organisations and people, plus the long holidays.

The leader stressed the need to stay calm and keep a cool head to assess the situation and take suitable methods, thus fulfilling the goals of socio-economic development and COVID-19 combat.

Technological measures should be stepped up in the pandemic fight, he said, emphasising the importance of observing the Ministry of Health’s 5K message - khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration), plus the vaccination drive.

Cities and provinces need to improve their testing, quarantine and forecasting capacity, and put forth scenarios, the PM said, asking them to minimise adverse socio-economic impact of social distancing and seriously follow quarantine regulations.

Chinh also urged the Ministry of Public Security to work harder so as to prevent illegal immigration.

Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, he said the Government and the committee are making efforts in negotiations to soon acquire more vaccines.

Health Ministry requests raising alert against COVID-19 to highest level

The Ministry of Health has sent an official dispatch to chairpersons of provincial/municipal People's Committees, directors of provincial/municipal Departments of Health and heads of medical facilities nationwide, asking them to raise the alert against the COVID-19 pandemic to the highest level and actively conduct COVID-19 testing at hospitals.

The document highlights the current serious developments of the pandemic, with outbreaks seen in many provinces and cities nationwide as well as patients and medical workers in some hospitals infected with the coronavirus, including its British and Indian variants with “super transmissibility”.

The ministry ordered the strict implementation of the directions on COVID-19 prevention and control issued by the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

With the alert raised to the highest level, plans to cope with any infections detected in hospitals must to be in place, said the dispatch.

Localities detecting domestically-transmitted COVID-19 cases should conduct testing for all medical workers, patients, and their long-time caregivers.

By the afternoon of May 7, nine hospitals have been applying medical quarantine after detecting COVID-19 infections within their treatment wards.

The total number of infections in Vietnam stood at 3,137, including 1,731 domestic cases. Of them, 161 cases have been discovered since the latest outbreak hit the country on April 27./. VNA