Ho Chi Minh City urged to focus on halting COVID-19 spread

Ho Chi Minh City must continue to isolate COVID-19 infections from the community to halt the spread of the outbreak, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (standing), Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, speaks at a meeting with Ho Chi Minh City authorities on anti-COVID-19 work, Ho Chi Minh City, July 20, 2021. (Photo: VGP)
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (standing), Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, speaks at a meeting with Ho Chi Minh City authorities on anti-COVID-19 work, Ho Chi Minh City, July 20, 2021. (Photo: VGP)

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On July 20, Dam, who is also the head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, had a working session with Ho Chi Minh City authorities on their anti-COVID-19 work.

At the meeting, the deputy PM affirmed that the reality in Ho Chi Minh City is "unprecedented" and the government shares the sense of urgency with the city's difficulties and locals’ hardships after a long period of implementing strict social distancing measures against the pandemic.

As the situation is still very complicated, with more infections to be reported in the coming days, Dam asked the city to timely detect and isolate infection cases as soon as possible, so as not to infect the community.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen said the city is consulting experts and the related authorities to prepare for the tightening of the current strict social distancing order under Directive 16 to achieve the set goals of preventing and reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

He wishes to continue to receive direction from the Central Government for better plans and solutions to effectively implement Directive 16.

On the same day, Dam and his Government's delegation also worked with Binh Duong provincial leaders on the prevention and control of the epidemic in the province neighbouring Ho Chi Minh City.

He urged the province to increase its COVID-19 treatment capacity to a higher level, so as when the epidemic in the province is controlled, Binh Duong can support Ho Chi Minh City and its neighbouring provinces.

On the afternoon of July 20, a delegation from the Ministry of Health, led by Deputy Minister Truong Quoc Cuong, went to inspect and supervise the preservation and transportation of COVID-19 vaccines at the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control (Hanoi CDC).

Cuong emphasised that Hanoi’s preparations and implementation of COVID-19 vaccination will play a very important role in the success of Vietnam’s largest vaccination campaign in history.

Nguyen Thi Kieu Oanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi CDC, said that from March 12 to July 5, her centre received a total of 184,470 doses of the AZD1222 COVID-19 vaccine and 10,800 doses of the Vero cell vaccine. Currently, Hanoi has more than 1,200 vaccination lines with more than 820 vaccination venues in 579 localities. The capital city plans to inject up to 200,000 shots per day.

Dr. Do Quoc Huy, Deputy Director of the 115 People's Hospital cum Deputy Director of the Ho Cho Minh City COVID-19 Resuscitation Hospital, said the hospital has achieved remarkable success as it has successfully helped 106 critical-ill COVID-19 patients return to moderate to mild conditions.

Up to now, the hospital has been providing treatment to 249 patients. In the next week, it will increase its capacity to 700 beds and continue to extend its treatment capacity in the near future.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has sent a dispatch to its affiliates in provinces and cities across the nation, urging monks, nuns and Buddhist followers to join hands with local authorities in the fight against COVID-19 with specific action. They are asked to stay at home and only go out when really necessary.

At 6 am on July 27, pagodas and monasteries across the country will simultaneously ring bells and drums to commemorate all fallen soldiers on the 74th anniversary of Vietnam Wounded and Fallen Soldiers' Day (July 27).

As of this morning, Vietnam reported 2,787 new COVID-19 cases, including 12 imported, raising the national total to 65,607.

According to the Ministry of Health, Ho Chi Minh City remained the country’s largest hotspot detecting 1,739 cases, followed by its southern neighbouring province of Binh Duong with 657 cases.

They also included 85 in Dong Nai, 65 in Tien Giang, 39 in Vinh Long, 38 in Khanh Hoa, 35 in Ben Tre, 18 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 16 in Can Tho, 13 in Dak Lak, 12 each in Kien Giang and Binh Phuoc, nine in Hau Giang, eight in Long An, six in Ha Giang, five in Phu Yen, four each in Dak Nong and Hanoi, three in Quang Ngai, two each in Binh Dinh, Nghe An and Lam Dong, and one in Gia Lai.

The number of cases reported since the fourth coronavirus wave hit the country late April has reached 61,940, 8,669 of whom have been given the all-clear. Total recoveries stand at 11,443.

A total of 123 patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms are being treated in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Eighteen are in critical condition and receiving ECMO support.

On July 20, 26,355 more people received COVID-19 vaccine shots, bringing the total doses administered in the country to over 4.33 million. A total of 317,672 people have been fully vaccinated with two jabs.