PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) discusses with WHO Representative in Việt Nam Park Ki-dong on the country’s measures to control and prevent COVID-19. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — WHO Representative in Việt Nam Park Ki-dong highly appreciated Việt Nam’s proactive measures in the fight against COVID-19 at a meeting on Saturday with Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc in Hà Nội.

Park said he was impressed by two key strategies Việt Nam was implementing to control and prevent the virus outbreak, including quarantining and having medical workforce, supplies, medicines and logistics ready in every locality to ensure prompt response to any infection.

WHO encouraged the Vietnamese Government to make all efforts to contain the epidemic, review all preventive plans and deploy stronger measures when needed.

The organisation urged the Government to pay due attention to protect doctors, medical workers – who have close contact with the infected – old people and those having existing medical conditions, as well as leaders.

WHO promised to continue building medical capacity for groups at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19, monitoring and evaluating risks on regional and global levels to consult the Vietnamese Government.

According to the representative, Việt Nam needs to reduce social bias toward COVID-19 infected people by stopping the spread of their personal information on social media which might restrain others from declaring their health status.

WHO said there had been 20 COVID-19 vaccine producing candidates and Việt Nam had full capability of mass producing vaccines.

A medical worker disinfects a quarantine area in Bình Thuận Province’s Phan Thiết City. As of Saturday morning, ten COVID-19 infected cases which are connected to the 34th patient in Bình Thuận Province have been confirmed. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Thanh

PM Phúc shared the opinion of stopping discrimination toward COVID-19 patients and said the Ministry of Public Security had strictly dealt with those spreading 'fake news'.

According to the PM, Việt Nam always upholds transparency in responding to COVID-19 and is taking efforts to contain the disease, while simultaneously ensuring socio-economic development and social stability.  

He expected to have the WHO’s assistance in updating information and innovations on disease control and prevention, developing treatment regimens and providing quick-test kits.

Việt Nam successfully treated 16 cases of COVID-19 infections including an elderly patient with complicated medical conditions. Therefore, the country has the fierce determination to push back the epidemic, Phúc said.

As of Saturday afternoon, Việt Nam has 49 COVID-19 infections including 16 cases having been given the all-clear.

WHO earlier on Wednesday morning declared the coronavirus a pandemic.

“WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we’re deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised by ‘pandemic’,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. — VNS