Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh convened an urgent meeting with the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control to seek stronger and more drastic measures to contain the pandemic in southern cities and provinces.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (standing) addresses an urgent meeting
on COVID-19 response, Ha Noi, July 19, 2021. Photo: VGP

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According to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, the pandemic situation in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and other southern provinces would continue with complex developments, including a possible rise in critically-ill patients.

The ministry built up a warehouse to store medical equipment, including ventilators in HCMC in a bid to secure sufficient medical supplies for patients and protective equipment for health worforces, said Nguyen.

It has also sent 6,400 health workers and planned to send 9,000 more to the southern localities - home to 993 medical facilities capable of providing treatment up to 66,000 patinets who require oxygen therapy, Nguyen added.

He said the ministry had set up íts special working group in HCMC as required by the Prime Minister to assist the southern localities in the fight against the pandemic.

The number of daily new COVID-19  cases from July 1-19.
Data source: Ministry of Health

General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense said nearly 3,000 drivers have been mobilized to ensure smooth transportation of food and medicines to these localities.

The ministry has also coordinated with the Ministry of Health to construct facilities for treatment of sickest patients, said Phan.

Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Trade and Industry said his ministry has worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to secure enough supplies of veggie and fruits to localities in neeed.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control called for serious enforcement of the strategy to prevent, detect, isolate, zone off and stamp out the outbreak while ensuring sufficient of medical supplies and promptly removing obstacles against goods distribution.

Meanwhile, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh asked HCMC to decentralize control of positive cases (F0) and those who come in close contact with COVID-19 patients (F1) to districts, wards, and families, and to strengthen treatment capacity for district-level medical facilities.

Concluding the meeting, PM Pham stressed that the pandemic situation in southern localities is “very complicated” and evolving rapid, requiring the Government to issue a resolution on COVID-19 response applicable nationwide.

Pham agreed on the need that HCMC and other southern localities must tighten discipline during the current social distancing period, considering its as a key solution to curb infection rate.

He tasked the Ministry of Health to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to conduct comprehensive study on the Delta variant and classify F0s and F1s in terms of transmission risks and symptom seriousness in order to steer resources to the right places.

The Government chief ordered Secretaries of provincial/municipal Party Committees and Chairpersons of provincial/municipal People’s Committee to organize strict implementation of the Government’s Directive No. 16, particularly calling on citizens not to leave home if not really necessary, and to mobilize all resources for the fight against COVID-19./.