Doctors treat severe COVID-19 patients. Photo: Minh Quyet/VNA

The dispatch said that amid the surging cases since early April and the World Health Organization considering the COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern, the Ministry of Health urges localities not to let their guard down and effectively implement the pandemic prevention and control measures that the Government has promulgated; and boost vaccination against COVID-19 to achieve the goals set by the Government and the Prime Minister; especially vaccination of high-risk groups.

The Ministry also requested localities to closely monitor the pandemic situation; prepare for possible happening, prevent and control the COVID-19 at educational institutions, at border gates, in health facilities and in the community for early detection and timely handling; and closely coordinate with health units to promptly detect new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.