Speaking at a meeting of the National Steering Committee forCOVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on April 6, which he heads, Deputy PMDam said Vietnam is one of only three countries worldwide where cases surpass200 but no fatalities have been recorded.
It has been able to contain the pandemic, he said, thanks tothe sound leadership of the Party and the State and the comprehensiveengagement of involved agencies.
Given the complex developments globally and the varioushardships and risks likely to lay ahead, Deputy PM Dam called upon all to remainvigilant and united.
The Ministry of Health reported that Vietnam has had 241confirmed COVID-19 cases to date, including 150 infected people arriving fromoverseas. Ninety have recovered and been transferred to health facilities forfurther monitoring.
Echoing Deputy PM Dam’s comments, Deputy Minister of HealthNguyen Xuan Tuyen said the disease is now under control in Vietnam thanks todrastic countermeasures being adopted in a timely manner.
He urged ministries, agencies, and localities to continuefollowing the directions of Party General Secretary and President Nguyen PhuTrong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
According to Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong,Vietnam has produced medical face masks and protective gear using domesticmaterials for its medical workers, and is studying the production ofventilators which are currently being imported.
The country has prepared sufficient medical supplies in casethe number of COVID-19 patients tops 10,000, he said, adding that logisticsagencies and providers have been working on contingency plans should thesituation worsen.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said the ministryhas asked hospitals at all levels to upgrade countermeasures to ensure thesafety of patients, health workers, and the community.
He recommended people contact medical facilities and bookcheck-ups to ensure social distancing.
Lieutenant General Tran Duy Giang, Director of the GeneralDepartment of Logistics and deputy head of the Standing Board for COVID-19Prevention and Control under the Ministry of National Defence, said thepandemic is developing in a complex manner throughout Southeast Asia and thenumber of Vietnamese returning home is forecast to rise in the time ahead.
Given this, the ministry has instructed border guards to bevigilant and assigned military zones in the south to set up shelters forreturnees./.