Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Friday chairs a teleconference with authorities of provinces and cities which have recorded infection cases since late July. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has asked localities and sectors to ensure sufficient supply of medical equipment and human resources for COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment work.

He was speaking at a Government meeting on Friday with authorities of provinces and cities which have recorded infection cases since late July that linked to Đà Nẵng City.

PM Phúc said infection risks in the community were very high, requiring drastic measures for at least two weeks and in hotspots. He assigned chairpersons of local People’s Committees to prepare solutions depending on the practical situation, focusing on a quick, effective response and mobilising all forces to minimise infection rate and at the same time, minimise the pandemic’s impacts on socio-economic development and livelihoods.

He said an effective pandemic response strategy must ensure public health and not disrupt economic activities. He asked Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam Province, HCM City, Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Khánh Hòa, Quảng Ninh and other localities to ensure supply of goods and food reserves in case the pandemic lasts longer than expected.

COVID-19 prevention and control work must not suspend jobs, export contracts and public services, he said.

He ordered social distancing at hotspots, saying quick and accurate tests would be key to containing the virus.

“As COVID-19 is spreading fast in many countries and Việt Nam has deeply engaged in global integration, we must be vigilant. The fight against COVID-19 in Việt Nam has reached its peak,” he said.

He praised the Ministry of Health and localities for offering assistance to hotspots in Đà Nẵng and Quảng Nam, asking the ministry to continue its support for the pandemic-hit localities in terms of medical equipment, human resources and improving professional capacity.

The PM hailed HCM City and Hà Nội for imposing penalties on those not wearing face masks in public areas.

He asked for increased capacity to produce life support machines and face masks and getting ready to set up field hospitals in Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam and other areas which have a high level of infection.

According to a representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Việt Nam has 100 medical face mask manufacturing companies with capacity of 100 million masks per month. In the first six months of this year, Việt Nam exported 557 million medical masks. In June alone, 236 million masks were exported. The domestic supply of face masks is sufficient.

PM Phúc encouraged smartphone users to download Bluezone, a Bluetooth-based app that helps determine if a person has come into contact with a COVID-19 patient.

According to Minister of Information and Communications Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, as of August 6, there have been about 8.5 million downloads nationwide with Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, HCM City, Hà Nội ànd Quảng Ninh having the highest rate of users.

Twenty-one cases of F1 and F2 have been detected through the app, he said.

Localities that have infection cases must promote installation to have 30 to 45 per cent of the population using the app, he said.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, localities have completed preparations for the national high school exam which is scheduled for Sunday and Monday. Students in Đà Nẵng, six districts, cities and towns in Quảng Nam and Buôn Ma Thuột City of the Central Highlands' Đắk Lắk Province will sit the exam in the second phase due to social distancing regulations.

Students classified as F1 and F2 in other areas will not take the exam this week. — VNS