Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presided over a virtual meeting to review the COVID-19 pandemic situation and discuss containment measures for the upcoming time.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presides over a virtual meeting on COVID-19 response,
Government Office, Ha Noi, September 5, 2021. Photo: VGP

Participants to the meeting include Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh, several Cabinet members and leaders of 63 cities and provinces.

As of 6:30 pm on Sunday, Viet Nam recorded 524,307 COVID-19 cases, including 520,013 community infections documented since April 27 when the fourth COVID-19 wave hit the country. Ho Chi Minh City remains the epicenter of the current wave with 251,934, accounting for 48 percent of the national caseload.

The daily COVID-19 count is expected to continue rising over the next days as localities are stepping up mass testing, said the ministry.

Among 23 cities and provinces currently undergoing social distancing, Soc Trang, Binh Phuoc, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Dong Nai, Phu Yen have brought the pandemic under control.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Long An and Tieng Giang need to maintain drastic efforts to limit transmissions.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said localities are on the right track in the fight against COVID-19 but the pandemic situation remains complicated and unpredictable.