(VOVWORLD) - The pandemic has been almost under control nationwide with new cases and deaths falling markedly in hotspot southern provinces, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, on Saturday chaired a national online meeting of the Committee with localities. The meeting evaluated pandemic response in the past weeks and discussed ways to help people return to their hometowns according to their wishes, guidelines for safe, flexible adaptation, social security, transport, and goods circulation.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs meeting between the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and localities, Hanoi, October 9, 2021 (Photo: VGP)
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In Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An provinces, the number of new cases and deaths has decreased significantly. Social security is guaranteed. Social order and safety are maintained. Life in the pandemic area has been stabilized.
However, the risk of pandemic recurrence remains, especially when a large number of people have moved back to their hometowns from localities where social distancing has been eased. From October 1, 180,000 people have returned to their home villages in 43 provinces and cities. Of them more than 1,000 people have tested positive for the SAR-COV-2 virus.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Chinh asked participants to assess what has been done and what has not been done over the past two weeks, specify the causes, and draw lessons. He requested not to be negligent, not to lose temper, to be alert and wise to carry out measures effectively.
He described vaccine as an important issue that determines whether we are safe or not. “We still have to focus on importing vaccine. The Vaccine Diplomatic Team must work better and we must act more aggressively and more effectively. Almost all countries that Vietnam negotiated with have responded very positively. Now we can access vaccines in all available forms: buying, donating, and diverting. We are on the right track,” said Mr. Chinh.
The Prime Minister requested the resumption of inter-provincial transportation, including air, railway, and waterway and urgent completion of the PC-COVID app to create convenience and ensure security of personal information.