He did so while presiding over a virtual meeting to review COVID-19 prevention and control efforts with leaders of localities now under social distancing measures following the PM's directive on strengthened social distancing.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh

A report of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control showed that after 26 days of the implementation of the measures in the 19 southern localities, 216,719 infections were detected. Some localities have seen a decline in the number of locally-transmitted cases.

The Government leader spoke highly of the efforts by authorities in the country’s current largest hotbeds of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai. However, he also pointed out that the situation remains complicated.

PM Chinh asked Party Secretaries of pandemic-hit localities must be heads of the steering board on COVID-19 prevention and control. In addition, each locality has to promptly set up a center for COVID-19 prevention which operates around the clock.

He urged relevant agencies to speed up testing and contain the spread of the pandemic.

The Ministry of Health is tasked with further sending personnel to pandemic-hit localities, improving the capacity of medical staff at the district level and completing necessary procedures.

The PM also called for the acceleration of vaccination for prioritized groups, including people aged 50 and over, and the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for children.

Source: VNA