Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh demanded subordinate levels to exert greater efforts to quickly stamp out COVID-19 outbreaks in key hotspots like Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Ha Noi, and Ho Chi Minh City to ensure socio-economic development. 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) chairs the national online
meeting on COVID-19 response, Ha Noi, May 29, 2021. Photo: VGP

Speaking at the national online meeting on COVID-19 response on Saturday morning, the Government chief reiterated that the first and foremost goal is protect health and lives of people.

In general, the COVID-19 pandemic has been controlled but the situation in the aforesaid localities has evolved increasingly complicated due to dangerous variants spreading to industrial parks and religious establishments, said PM Pham.

Pham tasked Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam to oversee the COVID-19 fight as Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh was assigned to direct COVID-19 prevention and control in Ho Chi Minh City.

PM tasked Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh to oversee COVID-19 prevention and control in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh – the current biggest hotspots.

Secretary of Ha Noi Municipal Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung was assigned to direct the COVD-19 fight in the capital city.

Pham also ordered subordinate levels to make every effort and utilize every channel to access to foreign vaccine sources while accelerating domestic vaccine research and development.

Relevant agencies must purchase vaccine production technology by all means, emphasized Pham, calling for active engagement and contributions from all individuals and organizations in vaccine purchase and technology transfer.

According to Deputy PM Vu, the current COVID-19 wave requires us to make tenfold efforts to catch up with the transmission rate as the outbreaks occurred in industrial parks and end-line hospitals.