Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said people’s cooperation is the most important factor in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while addressing a meeting on Monday. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presides over a meeting on COVID-19
prevention and control on April 6, 2020. Photo: VGP

Phuc stressed the point as Viet Nam is on the 6th day of the 15-day nationwide social distancing campaign to contain the transmission of the virus with positive signals recorded over the past days.

Under the campaign, citizens are asked to stay at home in a bid to reduce risk of being infected with the virus and should only go out to buy food, medicine and other essential things, or for emergencies, medical treatment, natural disasters, or go to work in State agencies, military units, diplomatic missions, factories, production facilities and businesses that involve trade in "essential" goods and services.

As they leave home, they must wear face masks, wash hands with soap or sanitizer and keep two-meter distance with others.

Thanks to their cooperation, the number of new infection cases has decreased while the number of recovered patients has increased, the Government chief highlighted.

He reiterated the need to continue implementation of the adopted measures as reinfection has occurred in some parts of the world.

Phuc expressed his belief that the epidemic will not reach its peak in Viet Nam if the ongoing 15-day nationwide social distancing campaign is strictly implemented.

He asked for tracking down all traces at Ha Noi’s Bach Mai Hospital and Ho Chi Minh City’s Buddha Bar - the two biggest COVID-19 clusters in Viet Nam, and strengthening precautionary measures to prevent transmission risks at supermarkets and public transport means.

The epidemic-hit localities need to increase investments on COVID-19 tests, PM Phuc said.

As of Monday, more than 1.23 million people in 210 countries and territories contracted the virus, including 70,000 fatalities, according to the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

In Viet Nam, the infection tally rose to 241, of whom 150 are imported cases from pandemic-hit areas, accounting for over 62.4%, the Committee said.

Of the total, 95 have been cleared of the virus and exited hospitals while four of the currently active cases are in critical conditions but getting better.

Regarding Viet Nam's biggest COVID-19 cluster at Ha Noi’s Bach Mai Hospital, authorities tested 8,683 related people as of April 5, of whom 22 have been confirmed positive for the virus.

Competent authorities have also tracked 52,239 others who have visited the hospital in an effort to prevent the virus transmission.

For Ho Chi Minh City’s Buddha Bar, 4,379 people have been tested, of whom 18 cases found positive for the virus.

Last updated on 7:20 pm