PM orders staying on duty round the clock to fight COVID-19 during Tet

PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the teleconference. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The steering committees for COVID-19
prevention and control, departments and localities must stay on duty round the
clock to fight the pandemic during the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival, Prime Minister Pham
Minh Chinh has said.

Chairing a teleconference with 63 cities and provinces on
January 27, PM Chinh, who is also Head of the National Steering Committee for
COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said though the pandemic has been under
control, it remains complicated with the emergence of Omicron and possibly
other new variants.

Accordingly, he asked the (MoH) to promptly
submit legal documents on the Programme on Prevention and Control for
2022-2023 to the Government for consideration and issuance, and continue fine-tuning and supplementing
anti-pandemic principles based on the realites.

The PM requested the MoH to work closely with localities to accelerate
vaccinations this spring, step up the recognition and production of
domestically-made vaccines and medicines, ensuring that the process is carried out in
a scientific, open and transparent manner.

Toward the goal of minimising infections, serious cases and
deaths, the MoH must fully prepare infrastructure to cope with
contingencies and ensure regular health check-ups for citizens.

The Ministry of Education and Training was assigned to build and
issue new prevention and control measures in the new conditions to re-open
schools as soon as possible in a safe and effective way.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and tourism must build a roadmap
to resume tourism activities no later than April 30 – May 1, PM Chinh stressed.

At the same time, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Public Security, National Defence, and Transport will rearrange entry-exit
activities safely and conveniently.

With the motto of leaving no one behind, the Ministry of Labour,
Invalids and Social Affairs must ensure social welfare for all residents,
especially a warm and happy Tet for them, the government leader noted.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was urged to ensure
sufficient supply of goods and prevent price speculation, especially necessities during
Tet.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

According to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19
Prevention and Control, Vietnam recorded over 2.1 million COVID-19 cases during
the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections as of January 26, over 1.9 million of them recovered.
So far, as many as 166 cases related to Omicron variant have been found, including
six in the country.

Vietnam is striving to finish the injection of the second shot to children aged
12-17 by late January and the third shot to those aged above 18 by the end of the
first quarter this year./.