Desptie the drop in patients, the ministry will continue to keep a close watch on pandemic evolution to make necessary interventions, said Minister Nguyen.

The ministry has prepared for possible future variants by envisaging a response plan in line with three senarios of the World Health Organization.

In the first scenario, the virus continues to evolve from Omicron, BA.1, BA.2, XE. The Ministry is keeping an eye on and and conducting epidemiological and laboratory analysis for timely detection of strains entering Viet Nam. To date, Viet Nam has yet confirmed any case of XE variant.

In the best-case scenario when less severe variants emerge, and boosters or new formulations of vaccines won't be necessary.

In the worst-case scenario, if a more virulent and highly transmissible variant emerges, the ministry will continue epidemiological surveillance and respond.

People are advised not to be subjective when seeing that COVID-19 tends to cool down and they should avoid mass gathering especially during the upcoming national festivals./.