Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Thursday encourages health officials and troops at a quarantine facility at Thạnh Mỹ Lợi Secondary School in Thủ Đức City during a COVID inspection to HCM City. VNA/VNS.Photo Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính visited HCM City on Thursday to check COVID-19 prevention efforts in what is now the country’s hotspot.

At the quarantine facility at the Việt Nam National University-HCM City in Thủ Đức City, Chính called for the need for preventive measures against cross-contamination.

Quarantine facilities should not become a transmission source, he warned.  

He instructed the Ministry of Public Security to dispatch more forces to the city to control quarantine facilities, and said rapid tests should be stepped up.

Secretary of the city Party Committee, Nguyễn Văn Nên, said that the city needs more rapid testing capacity since it is currently carrying out mass testing.

On hearing this, Chính instructed the Ministry of Health to get Medicon Co.Ltd to speed up production of antigen rapid test kits and send them to HCM City by air.

The PM and his delegation visited Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC at the Saigon Hi-tech Park in the city to inspect its manufacturing facility, processes and production capacity. 

Relevant agencies in Tân Chánh Hiệp ward in HCM City’s District 12 are strengthening preventive measures in COVID-19 ‘green’ zones. VNA/VNS.Photo Tiến Lực

The country is acquiring technology for vaccine production from other countries but domestic production is vital to ensure supply and at cheaper prices, he said.

“Vaccines are decisive in the fight against COVID-19. If countries have high immunisation coverage through vaccines, they will return to normalcy.”

Hồ Nhân, general director of Nanogen Company, said his company has four plants and would meet the country’s demand for COVID vaccines.

In July the clinical trials of its Nano Covax vaccine were in the final phase and it has been sent to the World Health Organization for approval.

The company will sell its vaccine and technology to various countries including India. 

Trials show the vaccine is efficacious, Nhân said. 

He said the Government should have a team on hand to help companies like his resolve problems they face in production, adding red tape is causing delay.    

Chính hailed the company for taking the initiative to invest in and research into making the vaccine, but said while the country wants to soon have vaccines made by Vietnamese companies, stringent scientific and safety procedures should be followed.   

He instructed the Ministry of Health to set up a team to help companies produce COVID vaccines.

He also went to Cát Lái Ward in Thủ Đức City to check if people are being provided with daily necessities in adequate quantities and COVID-19 patients get rapid access to healthcare.

He instructed local authorities to take advantage of all sources of assistance that are coming in to ensure locals feel secure amid the strict social distancing.

People should be able to quickly access healthcare in their ward and communes, he said.

People aged more than 50 should be prioritised for testing, he said. VNS