Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc warned of a high risk of Covid-19 community infection in at least next two weeks as the number of community-transmitted cases rose by 298 since July 25. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presides over a virtual meeting with leaders
of 12 provinces and cities to discuss Covid-19 situation and ways to respond
to the pandemic. Photo: VGP

Concluding a virtual meeting on Covid-19 response this morning, the Government chief ordered authorities to make greater responsibility and more drastic efforts to contain the pandemic, especially in hotspots.

Chairmen of provincial People’s Committee are allowed to decide specific measures in order to promtply and effectively minimize infection rates while medical facilities must stay vigilant to prevent emergence of Covid-19 outbreaks there.

Social distancing must be strictly implemented in all Covid-19 hotbeds and fast and precise testing is the key to contain the spread of the virus, Phuc emphasized.

Phuc also stressed the need to wear facemask at public places and big cities, manufacture ventilators, and stay prepared to set up field hospitals in such localities like Quang Nam and Da Nang.

As the community infections have increased quickly, the number of Bluezone app installs has increased sharply recently, reaching 8.5 million as of August 6, according to Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

Of 298 patients confirmed over the last two weeks, 21 have been detected through the app that was designed to help reduce the spread of the virus to the community, Long said.