Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday presided over a meeting on COVID-19 response amid surge of community infection cases, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (middle) presides over a meeting
on COVID-19 response, Ha Noi, February 8, 2021. Photo: VGP

Present at the meeting included Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam – Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.

Viet Nam confirmed 451 local infection cases in 12 cities and provinces since January 25, according to the Ministry of Health.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, 28 cases have been reported to date, all linked to the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, said the ministry.

All 7,300 employees working at the airport have been tested, making it the latest COVID-19 cluster in Viet Nam.

Thought other COVID-19 clusters in 12 cities and provinces have been gradually contained as evidenced by a reduction of new cases, the ministry warned that transmission risk still remain in major municipalities like Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long suggested Ho Chi Minh City accelerate contract tracing and testing and consider imposing tougher measures to prevent spread of the virus./.