Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said wearing face coverings is the easiest and most effective way to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chairs a meeting on COVID-19 response,
Ha Noi, May 10, 2021. Photo: VGP

Vu made the statement at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Monday.

Face covering is one of the five measures that the Ministry of Health has repeatedly called on people to strictly follow in order to protect themselves in the pandemic time. Other measures are disinfection, distance, no gatherings, and health declaration.

Deputy PM Vu, who is head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control also reminded people should keep door open and turn off air conditioner if they stay in their room.

Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 outbreaks in Da Nang and Vinh Phuc showed that the virus spread quickly in closed spaces like bars, karaoke and massage parlors, said Vu, adding that localities should suspend or strictly control such services before deciding on areas to be isolated.

He urged subordinate levels to tighten borders control and strictly seriously monitor those who are placed under mandatory quarantine period (21 days) and medical surveillance to prevent community transmissions.

Once an infection case is detected, scope of isolation must be as appropriate as possible and preventive measures must be implemented seriously.

In case of an outbreak, Vu asked localities to stay calm and cool in order not to adopt excessive measures that may cause unnecessary adverse impacts on economic activities.

Viet Nam confirmed 442 community infection cases in 26 provinces and cities since April 27, 2021, bringing the national tally to 3,444.

Authorities have identified four transmission sources from Da Nang, Yen Bai, cancer hospital and national hospital for tropical diseases located in Ha Noi, and Hai Duong.

Particularly, the first two sources are linked to Vietnamese and foreign entrants who tested positive for the virus after completing 14-day mandatory quarantine period while the last source comes from an illegal entrant from Laos./.