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

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Prime Minister said that this was the 10th meeting of the Steering Committee after being reorganized, and key leaders agreed to assign tasks.Prime MinisterAct as Head of the Steering Committee, directly direct and operate centrally and uniformly from the central to local levels.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the meeting. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In recent days, the epidemic situation has had complicated developments. The National Steering Committee convened a national online meeting to assess the situation, analyze the causes, determine tasks and target solutions for the coming time. In that spirit, the National Steering Committee and the Steering Committees at the provincial, district and communal levels agreed on the methods, goals, implementation roadmap, and implementation of solutions in a strict, serious, scientific, appropriate and effective manner.

The Prime Minister asked delegates to focus their discussions on a number of issues: The epidemic situation; experiences and lessons learned in implementing Resolution 128 of the Government regulating temporary safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of the epidemic; the implementation of the vaccine strategy and vaccination; the preparation and supply of treatment drugs; ensuring social security; strengthening the capacity of preventive medicine and grassroots health; propaganda to raise people's awareness in epidemic prevention; the restoration of production and business, economic recovery and development; and the issue of reopening schools.

Reporting at the meeting, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that as of December 10, 2021, the world recorded more than 268 million COVID-19 cases and more than 5.3 million deaths. During the week, more than 4.3 million new cases and nearly 50,000 deaths were recorded. Compared to the previous week, the number of cases increased by 8% and deaths increased by 1%.

In Vietnam, up to now, the epidemic situation has been basically controlled nationwide. However, the number of community infections and deaths continues to increase in many localities across the country (during the week, the number of community infections increased in 40 provinces and cities). The epidemic has circulated in the community, there is a risk of new outbreaks appearing, and the possibility of an outbreak at any time, especially in localities with high population density, large trade and travel.

In the coming time, it is necessary to continue to strengthen epidemic prevention and control measures, especially early detection and treatment to reduce severe illness and deaths, and vaccination due to the favorable winter-spring weather for the development and spread of the virus, increased trade and travel during the New Year and Lunar New Year 2022, and the risk of new variants entering the country. In addition, there is a subjective, negligent, and lack of vigilance mentality among some units and people in implementing regulations on epidemic prevention and control after a long period of loosening social distancing.

To date, Vietnam has signed contracts, purchased, received aid, and sponsored a total of 211 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine; received 156.4 million doses; and allocated 143.4 million doses (about 13 million doses are undergoing quality inspection and export procedures). The whole country has vaccinated 131 million doses (during the week from December 1-8, 4.8 million doses were vaccinated, a decrease of 5.7 million doses compared to the previous week because most localities have achieved high coverage of the first dose and are waiting for the second dose according to the prescribed schedule); the first dose coverage rate is at least 96.4% and the rate of full vaccination of 2 doses is 76.5% of the population aged 18 and over. There are 57 provinces and cities implementing vaccination for children aged 12-17 (6.4 million doses have been vaccinated); Coverage of at least one dose was 57.3% and coverage of two doses was 12.7% of the population aged 12-17 years.

The authorities continue to direct and guide localities to proactively implement measures to improve the capacity to admit and treat patients; assign 16 central hospitals to provide professional support for treatment in some localities in the southern region. During the week, the Ministry of National Defense increased the number of doctors and nurses by 417; established 139 more mobile medical teams for localities in Military Region 7 and Military Region 9...