Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam reiterated the Government’s viewpoint at a meeting with leaders of ministries of health, national defense, public security, transport, and information and communications on Saturday.

Vu, who is head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, urged the Ministry of Health to work closely with the southern metropolis to ensure fast and safe vaccination process.

As of July 31, Viet Nam received more than 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from various sources, with half of which shipped to the country via the COVAX Facility.

Of the total figure, three million doses were sent to the city, of which 1.5 million doses have been administered, with 75,000 residents getting two jabs each.

As planned the city will be allocated 13.8 million doses in 2021, including five million doses to be sent to the city in August. With these, around 99 percent of the city’s population aged 18 and above will be vaccinated.

Social distancing to be extended in 19 southern localities

As the pandemic remains complicated with thousands of new cases reported daily, 19 southern cities and provinces will continue to be placed under social distancing for another 14 days, the national steering committee said.

These localities are Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai  Can Tho, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tieng Giang, Long An, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Kien Giang.

The committee called for strict observation of the social distancing rules as many people were spotted on streets without proper reasons.

As of 7:00 pm on July 31, Viet Nam confirmed 145,686 cases, including 38,734 recoveries and 1,306 deaths.

Among the national caseload, 89,962 community infection cases have been recorded in Ho Chi Minh City-currently the epicenter of the country’s fourth COVID-19 wave./.