A medical worker checks body temperature of people at a health checkpoint (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) –
Nguyen Thanh Long warned on January 20 about the “very high” risk of
transmission caused by the “extremely complicated” incidence of illegal border
crossings as the holiday (Tet) nears.
At a teleconference with all 63 cities and provinces
nationwide, he pointed out the complex developments of the pandemic, adding
that most countries and territories have witnessed an upwards trend in the
number of infections, which will soon stand at 100 million worldwide.
Vietnam hasn’t recorded any community
transmission of COVID-19 for a long period of time, Long said, but the risk
remains “very high”.
As proposed by the Ministry of Health, the Prime
Minister has demanded inbound flights be minimised to ensure a safe and happy
Tet for all.
Noting the complexity of illegal border
crossings despite more exhaustive border patrols by authorities, the minister
said some countries in the region are still conducting commercial flights so
many Vietnamese who are overseas have flown to these countries and attempted to
reach Vietnam over land.
More than 100 illegal entries are discovered every
day on average and as many as 500 on some days, he added, urging relevant
agencies and police in border localities to take stronger action to identify and
strictly deal with all cases.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long speaks at the teleconference on January 20 (Photo: VNA)Facing a surge of illegal entries ahead of ,
the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has ordered
localities to call on residents to report anyone illegally entering the country
or violating quarantine rules.
Long underlined the need to gear up for COVID-19
infections found in the community, asking for speedy zoning and quarantining of
infections, if any, so as to eradicate the virus from the community as quickly
as possible.
He also told healthcare facilities to be on the highest
alert to prevent transmission within their walls.
In regard to the upcoming 13th National Party
Congress, the minister said maximum disease prevention and control measures are
in place for its safest possible organisation.
All samples collected from central-level
delegates at the congress have tested negative, he added.
As of January 19, Vietnam had reported 1,540
COVID-19 cases, including 880 imported cases, with 35 fatalities.
There were 75 imported cases in the first 20
days of January, accounting for 8.4 percent of the total imported so far and up
by 11 cases against the first 20 days of December./.
Source: VietnamPlus
