Health worker administers a shot of COVID-19 vaccine to a woman (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The
fourth wave of infections is witnessing the rapid spread of the Delta
variant, at a speed twice or thrice as fast as that in the previous outbreaks,
said.
Vietnam recorded 38,726
in 58 provinces and cities between April 27, when
the ongoing virus resurgence began, and July 17 morning. They included nearly
22,000 cases in Ho Chi Minh City.
Long told a national
teleconference on July 16 that many localities, especially HCM City and other
provinces in the south, are facing extremely complicated outbreaks. The numbers
of new cases and fatalities are likely to keep increasing on the coming days.
He blamed the fast spread of
the partly on the fact that certain localities have failed to
enforce the Prime Minister’s Directive 16 in a serious manner.
Localities need to review
their COVID-19 scenarios and gear up for more complex situations, the minister
said, asking them to ready quarantine sites in which cross infection must be minimised
as the Delta variant is highly transmissible.
Regarding COVID-19
vaccination, he said Vietnam has successfully negotiated for about 170 million
vaccine doses supplied by different sources.
Due to the global vaccine
shortage, although some purchase contracts were signed in November 2020 and
some agreements made even in September last year, it is not until now that the
country can receive vaccines. Late deliveries are forecast to continue until
September this year, according to him.
In the short term, vaccines
will be prioritised for the provinces and cities currently hit by the pandemic,
along with major socio-economic hubs, so as to concurrently curb the outbreaks
and maintain economic development, Long added./.
Source: VietnamPlus
