Vietnam recorded 38,726 domestically infected cases 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.

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At the conference

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 Delta variant 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: VNA