Vietnam Prime Minister Asks Health Ministry to Study New Anti-COVID-19 Ways

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Ministry of Health (MoH) to study new anti-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) measures as the number of infections tends to decline in many countries and some COVID-19 vaccines are ready for use, the Government Office (GO) said in its latest announcement 28/TB-VPCP. PM Phuc asked the health ministry to soon decode the genomes of the new virus variant to have appropriate anti-pandemic measures and also issue a standard procedure to deal with suspected cases. The government leader also ordered local health authorities to continue obeying his Directive 05/CT-TTg on January 28 on some urgent anti-COVID-19 measures, with a focus on fast circling, small lockdowns, quick tracing, and large and rapid testing. Mr. Phuc highlighted that local authorities should not stop business and production activities but must tighten their management over them in line with anti-disease measures. He also asked the health ministry to carry out retest COVID-19 for foreign experts in Vietnam and conduct large-scaled tests on people with high risks. As of February 19 morning, Vietnam recorded 2,347 COVID-19 infections, including 35 deaths and 1,605 recoveries. In the new outbreak, the disease has spread to 13 localities, including Hai Duong with 575 cases, Quang Ninh with 60, Gia Lai with 27, Hanoi with 35, Bac Ninh with five, Bac Giang with two, Ho Chi Minh City with 36, Hoa Binh with two, Ha Giang with one Dien Bien with three, Binh Duong with six, Haiphong with one, and Hung Yen with two. (LaoDong, baochinhphu.vn)