Around 240,000 industrial workers in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang will be vaccinated against COVID-19, starting from Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health. 

Illustration photo

The total includes 150,000 in Bac Giang and 90,000 in Bac Ninh, the ministry added.

Bac Giang and Bac Ninh are the biggest COVID-19 hotspots in Viet Nam, with 1,564 and 654 confirmed cases, respectively, accounting for more than two thirds of the total community infection cases recorded in Viet Nam since April 27, 2021.

Authorities of the two northern provinces with support from the Ministry of Health have ramped up testing to detect new cases, especially at workers’ residential areas.

Speaking an online meeting with leaders of the two provinces, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that “the top priority now is to contain COVID-19 pandemic in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh”.

He said transmission risk remains high as the COVID-19 variant found in the two localities is more transmissible, requiring more drastic and effective measures to prevent spread of the virus from communities to industrial parks and vice versa.

Pham also ordered strict punishments for those who do not wear facemasks outdoors, especially those living and working in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh./.