Vietnam stays on guard in response to COVID-19 developments: Deputy PM

The meeting of the national steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, , international organisations and some sectors in Hanoi on May 12 (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Facing complex developments of COVID-19 around the world,
anti-pandemic forces of Vietnam always stand ready to respond, Deputy Prime
Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a meeting with representatives of the World Health
Organisation (WHO), international organisations and some sectors in Hanoi on
May 12.

Deputy
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long reported that Vietnam hasn’t recorded new
infections of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes , in the community for
26 consecutive days, and it is still carrying out surveillance of risk populations.

About
1,200 – 2,000 samples are tested each day, and tests of 275,000 samples
collected so far have discovered 288 infected cases, most of which were in
quarantine facilities, he noted, adding that epidemiological factors and risks
of community transmission in Vietnam are very low at present.

Therefore,
the country is pressing on with thoroughly preventing transmission from other
countries, strictly quarantining those entering Vietnam for 14 days and taking
samples from them for testing twice a day, maintaining the monitoring and
testing system to early detect infections in the community, sealing off areas
with infected cases, improving the medical staff’s capacity, and boosting the
production of medical equipment, medicine and other supplies, Long said.

Recognising
local efforts in the COVID-19 fight, WHO Representative in Vietnam Kidong Park said
the country has taken early actions and had drastic measures in response to
each infection.

However,
he also warned that as there is no medicine specialised in COVID-19
treatment or a vaccine, and the pandemic is forecast to linger, Vietnam needs
to stay vigilant and keep a close watch on the situation. Besides, although
Vietnam doesn’t have infected cases in the community, other countries in the
region and the world are still struggling with the pandemic.

Risks
of community infection still exist, he said, recommending it gear up for new
cases and even a “new wave” of infections so as to actively control the
pandemic like when the “first wave” occurred.

In
the time ahead, WHO will continue working closely with the Government, the national
steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, and the Health Ministry
of Vietnam to exchange information, update technical guidelines, and share
Vietnam’s experience with the international community, Park said.

Appreciating
WHO and foreign experts’ cooperation and assistance, Deputy PM Dam, who is also head of the national steering committee, expressed his hope for further
coordination, noting that Vietnam is ready to share information, initiatives,
and experience in the COVID-19 prevention and control with the international
community, especially low-income and developing nations.

He
stressed that anti-pandemic forces like health workers, military and police always
stay ready, and that Vietnam is keeping a tight control of people entering the country while easing restrictions within the country so as to realise the dual target
of combating the pandemic and ensuring socio-economic development./.