PM asks for readiness in responding to new dangerous coronavirus strains

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on April  九 urged the Health Ministry to devise new COVID- 一 九 prevention and control scenarios to make Việt Nam always ready in responding to the rapid development of the pandemic or the possible future appearance of more contagious and dangerous coronavirus strains.

Addressing the National Steering Co妹妹ittee for COVID- 一 九 Prevention and Control’s  一 四th teleconference with leaders of  六 三 provinces and cities, PM Chính, who is also head of the co妹妹ittee, stressed that vaccine continues to be a “strategic weapon” in the fight against COVID- 一 九.

Therefore, he asked for the acceleration of giving the third shot to those needed, and the completion of administering the second jab to children aged between  一 二- 一 八 in April; and the speeding up of the vaccine secure and inoculation for children aged between  五- 一 一 and completing the work in the second quarter of this year.

He also requested sectors, units and localities to be proactive in terms of treatment drugs, biological products for testing, new vaccines, and in preparing for the apprearance of new variants of the coronavirus.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to make policies to encourage the production of vaccines, treatment drugs, biological products, and test kits. The Ministry of Education and Training was required to coordinate with the Health Ministry and localities to speed up vaccination for students and ensure the safe reopening and operation of schools.

Chinh requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to ensure safe, friendly and effective tourism, and work with the Foreign Ministry in removing bottlenecks related to visa policies and making thorough preparations towards the successful organisation of the upcoming  三 一st Southeast Asia (SEA) Games.

He also asked the local Steering Co妹妹ittees to intensify the fight against corruption, negative phenomenon and wastefulness in pandemic prevention and control.

Meanwhile, the People’s Co妹妹ittees at all levels were required to continue working on the dual targets of pandemic combat and socio-economic recovery and development, and putting the lives and health of locals at first.

Việt Nam has to date recorded over  一0 million COVID- 一 九 infections, of whom nearly  八. 五 million have been given the all-clear. In the last week, the number of new infected cases in the co妹妹unity decreased by  三 六. 九 percent, and that of severe cases was also down  三 一. 七 percent, while the number of fatalities dropped  二 六. 一 percent.

By early April, Việt Nam had received over  二 三0 million vaccine doses, of which over  二0 七 million had been administered. — VNS