The meeting, which drew leaders of 20 localities where social distancing is currently in place, followed the Prime Minister’s pandemic response inspection tour of several southern provinces. 

(Photo: VOV)

Prompt shifting of services

Since the 4^th wave of the pandemic began in April, Vietnam has recorded almost 420,000 COVID-19 cases, half of whom have recovered, and more than 10,000 deaths. 

Enforced social distancing is improving the situation. The mortality rate is falling as medical services are now being delivered at the communal level. 

Of the cities and provinces observing stringent social distancing under Directive 16, Soc Trang, Binh Phuoc, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau have contained the outbreak, and the situation is improving in another 13. HCM City, BinhDuong, Long An, and Tien Giang are still working desperately to contain the disease. 

Authorities at all levels have collaborated closely to ensure adequate supplies of food and essential goods.  Aid delivered to southern provinces has accounted for more than three quarters of the national total. 

19 of the southern cities and provinces that are social distancing have developed plans to support lottery ticket sellers, taxi drivers, street vendors, unemployed laborers, and others hurt economically by the pandemic measures.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urges for stronger efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic (Photo: VOV)

Stamping out the virus

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam is sacrificing socio-economic gains to social distancing, so it must win this fight soon. He called for stricter, more effective social distancing and accelerated testing and vaccination. 

Mr. Chinh said social distancing affects social security, so relevant forces must ensure adequate supplies of necessities and pay particular attention to disadvantaged people and the vulnerable. People must be given access to health care services to ensure early detection, quick quarantine, and prompt treatment, and prevent hospital overloads. And traditional and western medicines should be combined to reduce COVID-19-related mortalities. 

The Prime Minister asked the Fatherland Front and other social and religious organizations to encourage the public to follow pandemic prevention and control measures, and uphold a spirit of mutual assistance and responsibility for the sake of their own health, the health of their community, and national interest. 

He said localities should consider evacuating people from densely-populated areas to safer, more spacious areas to slow the rate of transmissions. 

PM Chinh urged communes and towns to establish hotlines and take care of the people who call with emergencies. 

He said that as the government is working hard to contain the pandemic as soon as possible, what is needed most is consensus from central to local level and close coordination between agencies and frontline forces.