Optimal conditions to be given to localities in COVID-19 fight: PM

Hanoi (VNA) – The Government will continue to provide the most optimal conditions for Ho Chi Minh City and pandemic-hit localities to stamp out COVID-19 and promptly resume production, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The PM made the affirmation while chairing a meeting on July 23 between the government's permanent members and leaders of 21 southern central and southern provinces and cities to review the implementation of the Government’s directive on social distancing measures and solutions to strengthen pandemic prevention and control activities.

He stressed the need for to increase efficiency in conducting pandemic prevention and control measures in the localities, asking participants to point out shortcomings and solutions in the work in all aspects.

According to the Ministry of Health, after five days of applying social distancing measures following the Government’s Directive 16/CT-TTg, the pandemic developments have still complicated in the southern localities. The Health Ministry attributed the rise in the number of infections to the speeding up of testing, mostly in quarantine, locked-downed and high-risk areas.

Participants said that the implementation of the measures have still been ineffective in some localities, stressing that HCM City and southern localities should work harder to ensure strict implementation of the directive.

The localities should mobilise more resources and forces for pandemic prevention and control, while continue to rolling out measures to ensure social security, smooth transportation of goods and support to the needy, they said.

PM Chinh asked HCM City and other localities to give consistent directions at all levels, while applying pandemic prevention and control measures in a flexible and creative manner and working to raise public awareness in the field.

 The government leader requested the localities to show strong performance in implementing the vaccination strategy.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to strengthen operations of pandemic prevention and control teams in the communities with close coordination with competent forces, thus tightening the pandemic control measures and dealing with arising problems in a timely manner, he said.

Relevant ministries, sectors and agencies should work together to support employees and employers to overcome difficulties, conduct vaccination campaigns, step up technology application in the work, and increase communications on pandemic prevention and control measures, he requested./.