A corner of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has pledged togive priority to Ho Chi Minh City in terms of financial resources,infrastructure, materials and biological products to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which isspreading rapidly and complicatedly in the southern hub.
During an online meeting with the city'sauthorities to July 8, PM Chinh requested prioritising the supply of vaccinesto the city and nearby provinces and asked the health sector to roll outvaccinations promptly, safely and efficiently to local residents.
About public transport, the government leader urged thecity to minimise people's travel between localities.
Sectors and localities were assigned to devisescenarios to respond to the pandemic at a higher level in case there are 50,000infections, ensure the supply of goods and necessities, and prevent thedisruption of manufacturing and labour chains.
As the city is applying 15-day socialdistancing in accordance with the PM’s Decree No.16/CT-TTg, he noted thatpeople’s lives should not be changed a lot while security and order should be guaranteed.
During the fourth pandemic wave since April 27, the country has logged over 20,500 COVID-19 cases, 19,924 of them (97percent) were domestic infections, 609 (3 percent) were imported cases, 6,590 recovered and weredischarged from hospitals (32 percent), and 70 died, reported HealthMinister Nguyen Thanh Long.
HCM City alone recorded 8,385 cases.In the past week, there were 500-600 cases per day, mostly those in quarantinefacilities and others showing symptoms and went to medical establishments for checkup.
At the meeting (Photo: VNA) The minister also warned the pandemic could worsen in the near future without drastic actions.
PM Chinh asked relevant agencies to partner with the WorldHealth Organisations and neighbouring countries to work out measures suitablewith Vietnam’s conditions.
Permanent Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh and DeputyPM Vu Duc Dam were tasked with continuing to direct anti-pandemic efforts in thecity./.
