This was heard at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on March 26, discussing the implementation of measures to prevent and control the epidemic in the current period.
Regarding the latest cases of illegal entries testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that the illegal entry situation in the western border region is quite complicated, leading to a high risk of a fourth COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam.
Long urged localities to actively strengthen surveillance and to detect infection cases as quickly as possible, while preparing scenarios for testing, isolation and treatment, as well as expanding epidemiological investigation and speeding up tracing work.
The Steering Committee and experts recommended the relevant ministries, branches, localities and the public continue to inspect and hasten the implementation of COVID-19 control solutions. Everyone should raise their vigilance and strictly follow epidemic prevention and control measures. Ministries and branches must continue to develop technical solutions and to be ready to create suitable conditions for those who wish to enter Vietnam after being vaccinated against COVID-19.
At the meeting, the Health Ministry said, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine batch delivered through the COVAX Facility (nearly 1.4 million doses) to Vietnam would be delayed by about three weeks. Vaccine scarcity is a challenge for all countries, including Vietnam as it is not a country to be given priority in vaccines due to its effective control of the pandemic.
Deputy PM Dam noted that all COVID-19 vaccines imported to Vietnam must be those licensed by the Ministry of Health. Only enterprises licensed to import vaccines can import them. The vaccination must be carried out at medical establishments within the health sector and on the right subjects according to Resolution No. 21/NQ-CP.
The Steering Committee noted that, before vaccination, Vietnam was still prevailing against the epidemic. Vaccinating to achieve herd immunity in the world as well as in Vietnam is a long term measure. Therefore, Vietnam must continue to drastically implement all measures at the highest level to prevent and fight the epidemic as it has done so far.
As of 12 pm on March 26, Van Xa residential cluster in Ai Quoc ward, Hai Duong city (Hai Duong province) was the last residential cluster in Hai Duong to be removed from medical isolation after all residents in the area tested negative twice for SARS-CoV-2. As of March 26, Hai Duong had 726 people infected with COVID-19 (536 already recovered), with 17,557 close contacts to infections being put in concentrated isolation. The province tested nearly 714,000 people for the virus.
On the same day, the Hai Duong Province Study Promotion Association said that it has received VND300 million from the Vietnam Study Promotion Fund to support poor students affected by the epidemic in the province – the epicentre of the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Vietnam. The amount will be divided into 600 gifts (each worth VND500,000).
