PM requests stamping out COVID-19 outbreaks before lunar New Year
(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked for extra efforts to quickly stamp out new COVID-19 outbreaks before the Lunar New Year festival, which falls in mid-February.
 Prime Minister speaks at a permanent Cabinet meeting on COVID-19 (photo: Thong Nhat/VNA) |
At a permanent Cabinet meeting on the situation of zoning off and dealing with newly-detected infections on Friday, just one day after an urgent meeting with the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control on the sidelines of the ongoing 13th National Party Congress, the Prime Minister stressed that the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 is spreading very quickly, that needs to take more rapid actions and extensive testing, and quickly trace for anyone with possible contacts with the confirmed patients.
'It’s necessary to stop unnecessary activities and crowd gatherings. We will send gifts to delegates who are scheduled to attend the Homeland Spring Program. Sectors and localities need to closely follow the situation and prepare scenarios and solutions to respond to the new wave of COVID-19. The new variant of the virus is spreading quickly requiring us to make quick response. With the Vietnamese spirit and strong determination of sectors, localities and the people, the containment of the virus will be an achievement to welcome the success of the 13th National Party Congress.'
Phuc said localities with community-transmitted infections should practice social distancing at high-risk areas. The Prime Minister also urged the Health Ministry to submit a plan on buying COVID-19 vaccines within the first quarter of 2021.
The National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control is determined to contain the COVID-19 outbreaks within the next 8 days though new cases will be reported in Hải Dương, Quảng Ninh, Hải Phòng, Hà Nội, Bắc Ninh, and other localities.