A medical worker checks body temperature of people at a health checkpoint (Photo: VNA) At a teleconference with all 63 cities and provincesnationwide, he pointed out the complex developments of the pandemic, addingthat most countries and territories have witnessed an upwards trend in thenumber of infections, which will soon stand at 100 million worldwide.
Vietnam hasn’t recorded any communitytransmission of COVID-19 for a long period of time, Long said, but the riskremains “very high”.
As proposed by the Ministry of Health, the PrimeMinister has demanded inbound flights be minimised to ensure a safe and happyTet for all.
Noting the complexity of illegal bordercrossings despite more exhaustive border patrols by authorities, the ministersaid some countries in the region are still conducting commercial flights somany Vietnamese who are overseas have flown to these countries and attempted toreach Vietnam over land.
More than 100 illegal entries are discovered everyday on average and as many as 500 on some days, he added, urging relevantagencies and police in border localities to take stronger action to identify andstrictly deal with all cases.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long speaks at the teleconference on January 20 (Photo: VNA) Long underlined the need to gear up for COVID-19infections found in the community, asking for speedy zoning and quarantining ofinfections, if any, so as to eradicate the virus from the community as quicklyas possible.
He also told healthcare facilities to be on the highestalert to prevent transmission within their walls.
In regard to the upcoming 13th National PartyCongress, the minister said maximum disease prevention and control measures arein place for its safest possible organisation.
All samples collected from central-leveldelegates at the congress have tested negative, he added.
As of January 19, Vietnam had reported 1,540COVID-19 cases, including 880 imported cases, with 35 fatalities.
There were 75 imported cases in the first 20days of January, accounting for 8.4 percent of the total imported so far and upby 11 cases against the first 20 days of December./.
VNA
