Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered subordinate levels to have appropriate responses to COVID-19 to achieve the dual goal of the pandemic containment and economic recovery. 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the national conference on COVID-19 response, Ha Noi, May 7, 2021. Photo: VGP

The Government chief made the order at the national conference which was held in in-person and virtual format on May 7 with the participation of top leaders of provinces and cities.

Pham pointed out that the recent resurgence of local transmissions partly came as a result of negligence, subjectivity and lack of vigilance of several local authorities. 

He emphasized the need to keep mind cool and calm in evaluating the pandemic situation and choosing suitable response options. 

Social distancing shall only be imposed in the direction of minimizing adverse socio-economic impacts and supply chain disruptions, PM Pham said.

Viet Nam confirms 161 community infection cases of COVID-19 in 19 cities and provinces since April 27, 2021 when the fourth wave of local transmissions begins. 

Localities must seriously implement the existing regulations on mandatory quarantine (21 days) at designated facilities and post-quarantine medical surveillance at places of residence while proactively expanding their testing capacity to get ready for all scenarios.

PM Pham took the occasion to call for people’s support and cooperation in the fight against the pandemic by strictly implementing all regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

Viet Nam is experiencing the fourth wave of community transmissions, which is more complex than the previous three waves due to concurrent emergence of multiple outbreaks, multiple transmission sources, and multiple variants.

From April 27 to May 7, as many as 161 local infections have been confirmed in 19 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide.

Particularly, the cancer hospital and the national hospital for tropical diseases, both located in Ha Noi, have reported a total of 49 infections cases as of 8:00 p.m. on Friday.

The national hospital for tropical diseases was the top COVID-19 treatment facility in Viet Nam, with nearly 1,000 out of the national caseload of 3,137 had been treated there./.