PM convenes virtual meeting on COVID-19 response
VGP – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh convened a virtual meeting on COVID-19 response to discuss ways to contain the pandemic which is evolving complicated in several southern localities.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presides over a virtual meeting on COVID-19 response, Ha Noi, July 15, 2021. Photo: VGP |
In his opening remarks, PM Pham stressed that protecting people’s health and lives of citizens is the first and foremost task, thus pandemic-hit localities must give top priority to containing and pushing back.
According to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, Viet Nam has recorded 34,582 infection cases, including 33,909 domestic infections and 100 deaths in 58 cities and provinces, since the fourth wave of COVID-19 resurgence began in late April.
Among the total cases confirmed over the period, 7,547 patients have recovered, accounting for 22 percent.
The pandemic situation remains complex in several southern localities, in which Ho Chi Minh is currently the biggest hotspot with 19,405 cases as of 6:00 am on July 15.
More infection cases are expected in Ho Chi Minh City and its surrounding provinces in the coming days, said Nguyen, adding that the ministry has sent around 10,00 health workers and volunteers to help the southern metropolis fight the pandemic.
The ministry also issued new guidelines on quarantine and pilot home-isolation of F1 individuals (people who come in close contact with COVID-19 patients) in a bid to ease pressure on the healthcare sector amid rising infection cases.
Under the renewed policy, the quarantine period for foreign arrivals and F1 individuals is cut from 21 days to 14 days.
Nguyen also urged northern and central provinces and cities to take strict measures to monitor the health of their citizens returning from southern localities to limit the spread of the virus to community./.
By Thuy Dung
