Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting on Covid-19 prevention and control

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that this meeting aimed to review and evaluate after more than 1 month of implementing Resolution 128/NQ-CP of the Government on safe and flexible adaptation, effective control of the Covid-19 epidemic and Instruction No. 4800/QD-BYT of the Ministry of Health on medical expertise to implement Resolution 128/NQ-CP.

The Prime Minister requested delegates to review, on a practical basis, the achievements and remaining problems in the implementation process to make timely adjustments, in order to safely and flexibly adapt, effectively control the epidemic and restore and promote socio-economic development more effectively.

Minister of Health reports on epidemic prevention work. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

According to the Steering Committee, the 4th wave of Covid-19 epidemic until November 19, 2021, the whole country has recorded over 1 million cases, 880,000 people have recovered (82%) and 23,500 deaths. Last week alone, the whole country recorded 65,132 cases (31,369 community cases), 546 deaths. Compared to the previous week, the number of cases in the community increased by 20.3%, the number of deaths increased by 27.7%, the number of recovered cases increased by 45.5%.

Thus, after more than the first month of implementing safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of the epidemic according to Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP (from October 11 to November 19, 2021), the whole country recorded 105,543 community cases, of which the Southern region recorded 90,442 cases, accounting for 85.6% of the whole country. Compared to the previous month, the number of community cases nationwide increased by 2.9%, the number of deaths decreased by 46.3%, the number of cases being treated in hospital decreased by 25.3%, the number of severe and critical cases decreased by 40.8%.

View of the meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control at the Government bridge. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

The Steering Committee assessed that the epidemic situation has been basically controlled nationwide. However, the number of community cases is increasing in many localities across the country (during the week, the number of community cases increased in 35 provinces and cities) because the pathogen has existed in the community, many cases have no symptoms, unknown sources of infection and are related to people returning from epidemic areas.

Participants at the online meeting. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA.

Outbreaks are concentrated in densely populated areas, with secondary infections occurring in the community, especially in localities with high population density, trade, and travel.

In the coming time, there may continue to be many chains of infection and potential risks of disease spreading in the community, especially in weather conditions that are favorable for the development and spread of the virus.