Prime Minister issues Official Dispatch on controlling new Omicron strain

The content of the telegram is as follows:

The COVID-19 pandemic in the world continues to have very unpredictable developments due to the Omicron variant. There is currently a fairly clear basis to assess that the Omicron variant spreads much faster while there is no basis to determine that it is less virulent than the Delta variant. Studies have shown that even after receiving two doses of the vaccine, the risk of infection from the Omicron variant is still significantly higher than that of the Delta strain. Even in the case that the virulence of the Omicron strain is lower than that of the Delta strain, with the rapid spread rate, the health system is still at risk of being overloaded, leading to many deaths.

Although no cases of infection with the Omicron variant have been detected in the country, the number of infected people, severe patients, and deaths is still increasing and the health system in some localities is overloaded, requiring support from the Central Government and other localities.

Faced with that situation and the high possibility that the Omicron variant will appear in our country, the Prime Minister requested:

1. The Ministry of Health closely follows the epidemic situation in the world, promptly directs, guides and reports to the Prime Minister to direct necessary and appropriate measures; not to be passive and surprised; not to overload the health system on a large scale. Urgently guide the assessment of the epidemic level and necessary epidemic prevention and control measures appropriate to the epidemic situation, winter weather and the risk of Omicron variants. Strengthen the direction of epidemiological surveillance to promptly detect new variants.

2. All ministries, branches, People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall strengthen the direction of disease prevention and control measures; especially the inspection and strict handling of organizations and individuals violating regulations on disease prevention and control.

During the time when the Ministry of Health has not issued new instructions on assessing the epidemic level as stated in point 1 above, based on the specific situation in each field, each locality can agree with the Ministry of Health to upgrade the epidemic level compared to the epidemic level determined according to the current instructions of the Ministry of Health.

3. The Ministry of Health and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall urgently direct and organize the implementation of safe and fastest vaccination as possible in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health; not leaving anyone who is designated for vaccination without being fully vaccinated (including booster shots), especially those in high-risk groups. The Ministry of Health shall ensure adequate allocation of vaccines to localities. Absolutely do not allow any local surplus or shortage of vaccines to occur.

4. The Ministry of Health ensures that all localities are provided with sufficient antiviral drugs (drug bag C). Localities shall organize the distribution of drugs to all people infected with the virus who need to take them as soon as possible. There shall be absolutely no shortage of drugs.

5. The Ministry of Health and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall direct, guide and train to strengthen the organization of treatment at home and at the grassroots level; avoid overloading at higher-level hospitals. Review and proactively strengthen the capacity of the health system at all levels; have clear plans with specific scenarios, do not be passive. Absolutely do not let people test positive but cannot access medical services, are not given medicine, and are not managed or monitored for their health.

6. The Ministry of Information and Communications urgently completes information technology tools, closely coordinates with the Ministry of Health, ministries, branches and localities to deploy synchronous, effective and practical applications; coordinates with the Central Propaganda Department to strengthen propaganda to raise vigilance and proactively prevent and control the epidemic in the whole society in the face of the risk of widespread re-outbreaks in the end-of-year weather conditions and the Omicron variant./.