Deputy PM orders preparedness for new COVID-19 developments

Deputy PM speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vu Duc
Dam, head of the , on July 24 urged all competent forces to remain vigilant and stand
ready to cope with new developments of the pandemic.

Speaking at a meeting of the committee, Dam lauded efforts
made over the recent past in fighting the epidemic.

However, nothing is absolute safe, he
said, warning of the risk of coronavirus transmission as Vietnam has land border routes
running 4,000km and has implemented flights carrying foreign experts to the
country and Vietnamese citizens, including COVID-19 cases, from pandemic-hit
areas.

Given this, competent agencies need to tighten their
management and make plans to bring home Vietnamese people in line with the
domestic capacity for pandemic prevention and control, Dam requested.

Right after any risk is detected, prompt actions must
be taken to prevent the spread of the virus in the community, he stressed.

Regarding the suspected case in the central city of Da
Nang, the Deputy PM appreciated the locality’s quick response to the incident, including
contact tracing and quarantine measures.

The final test result should be announced by the
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, slated for July 25 morning, he
said.

“However, whether the test result is negative or
positive, we still need to continue implementing measures as we have done in
response to positive cases,” he ordered.

Contact
tracing, quarantine and testing are compulsory in response to suspected or confirmed
cases within the community, he emphasised.

The case in Da Nang is a signal helping to raise the
preparedness of localities, as well as the entire medical system, Dam said,
expressing his belief that preparedness and observance of regulations on
COVID-19 prevention and control would prevent the disease from spreading in the
community.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long, Acting Minister of
Health, reported that the ministry has rolled out all necessary
countermeasures, and sent a working group to right on July 24 to assist the
locality in dealing with the case.

On July 23 night, Da Nang conducted testing on people
who had close contact with the man, and their test results turned out negative,
he said, adding that all of them are still put under quarantine.

At the meeting, many experts urged people to continue
wearing face masks in public places, and suggested tightening management at
border gates and areas, and strictly handle people illegally entering
Vietnam./.