Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc chairs a teleconference with permanent Government members on Monday, during which he highlights the need to continue implementing Directives No 15 and 16 on COVID-19 prevention and control, as well as remain alert as reinfection has been seen in some parts of the world. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has requested preparing scenarios between now and April 15 for the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections. 

During a teleconference with permanent Government members on Monday, the PM highlighted the need to continue implementing the Directives No 15 and 16 on COVID-19 prevention and control, as well as remaining alert as reinfection has been seen in some parts of the world. 

He lauded the army, medical staff and public security forces for raising their sense of responsibility as frontline workers in the fight, with fewer infections and more recoveries in recent days. 

The PM also hailed good deeds by philanthropists nationwide, thus inspiring solidarity to work together against the epidemic under the Party's leadership and State management. 

According to the Prime Minister, the pandemic remains at a dangerous level and could break out again anytime, that’s why ministries, agencies and localities must continue following the PM’s Directive No 16 on social distancing more strictly. 

Specifically, the leader ordered tracing down F0 cases and those related to two hotbeds in Hà Nội and HCM City, enhancing prevention and control at places of worship, supermarkets and high-risk areas. 

He asked for the preparation of plans for field hospitals while the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control must pool resources, improve localities’ healthcare capacity and use modern technology in the effort. 

"If physical distancing to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in the community is conducted well, there will not be the peak of the epidemic in Việt Nam," he said. 

Pandemic-hit localities were asked to increase testing for residents and oversee prevention and control at production facilities. 

The leader said the Government would issue a ventilator production scheme, thus creating favourable conditions for businesses in the field. 

He suggested protecting reporters working amid the pandemic, making it easier for them to fully cover local lives and prevention work in the country, as well as enhancing global cooperation in the COVID-19 fight, boost economic activities, including controlled export of rice, masks and software for countries in need. 

The PM also proposed establishing a group of medical experts to monitor the situation and offer suggestions to the Steering Committee and the Government. 

Further attention should be paid to help Vietnamese people, especially the vulnerable, young people and patients stranded abroad, to return home, he said, adding that the Government had outlined a scheme to tackle difficulties facing the poor as well as step up public capital investment. 

Though COVID-19 had resulted in economic losses, it also offered opportunities. Therefore, departments and people should renew working methods, develop new services, especially using information technology for the development of digital Government and economy, production and export of preventive medicine goods for major markets such as Europe and the US, he said. 

As of 6pm on Monday, 95 out of 245 infection cases in Việt Nam had recovered. The condition of four serious cases had improved, while 58 others tested negative more than once. 

Among 150 patients under treatment, 123 are Vietnamese and the remainder are foreigners, mostly from the UK, Brazil and France. Only 14 have other diseases.

Violations to be strictly handled

In a related move, the Prime Minister has asked ministers and heads of ministry-level agencies, chairpersons of the people’s committees of centrally-run cities and provinces, within their authority, to focus on directing, guiding, inspecting, promptly discovering and strictly dealing with violations regarding COVID-19 prevention and control, in line with law.

Specifically, behaviours related to the non-compliance with prevention and control measures, reactions against officers in charge of epidemic prevention and control, the spread of untruthful information causing public concern and social instability, recycling of used medical masks, production of fake goods, goods hoarding to hike prices, and trade fraud, among others, will be strictly dealt with.

The Ministry of Public Security was assigned to direct units concerned to promptly conduct investigations and consider criminal liability for any violations.

Ministries, agencies and people’s committees of centrally-run cities and provinces must report on the implementation outcomes to the Health Ministry before April 15. The Ministry of Health later must report to the Prime Minister before April 17. — VNS