The next 15 days are seen as a "golden time" to decide whether we succeed or fail to combat the epidemic, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during a March 29 online meeting with five major cities- Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hai Phong.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs an online meeting on COVID-19
epidemic prevention and control with five major cities

In his speech, the cabinet leader said it is worthy of note that two of the country’s biggest cities, Hanoi and HCM City have properly implemented the Prime Minister's Directive No15, effective from zero hours March 28 until at least April 15, which gives a number of recommendations on social distancing for its citizens to follow amid growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding the domestic epidemic situation, PM Phuc said it is praiseworthy that no deaths have been reported so far nationwide, while a number of fully recovered cases were discharged from hospital.

Therefore, those who post fake news on social networks or publish false information about COVID-19 must be dealt with stiff administrative fines, he added.

The country has recorded a total of 179 cases of COVID-19 so far, including 21 being discharged. As many as 75,300 people in close contact and returning home from epidemic-hit areas are being in quarantine, of which over 39,500 are undergoing home isolation.

153 patients, including 115 Vietnamese and 38 foreign citizens are receiving treatment at 20 medical facilities across the nation.

Currently, there are 24 laboratories nationwide capable of conducting COVID-19 tests (handling 8,250 samples per day) with the full permission from the Ministry of Health.

Concerning the freshly-detected patients at Hanoi-based Bach Mai General Hospital which is considered as a major outbreak in the capital with 16 cases confirmed for the virus, the Ministry of Health recommends that all patients, their family members and anyone who has been to Bach Mai Hospital between March 10-27 take prevention measures.

The measures run as follows: Send a message notifying your full name and address to phone number 8889; contact your local disease control center for advice; make a medical declaration on the NCOVI application (ncovi.vn), or declare online at tokhaiyte.vn; regularly update health status for advice and assistance. 

To date 51 COVID-19 patients under treatment in the country have tested negative for the virus between one and four times, according to health authorities.