Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam chairs a meeting of the National Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has gone 22 consecutive days without new COVID-19 community infections but it must keep staying vigilant as the winter is coming, experts said at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Thursday.

Speaking at the meeting, members of the committee said the country is entering a tough time as the weather is getting drier and temperature dropping, which is an ideal condition for SARS-CoV-2 to grow and spread.

More than three weeks of having no new community infections may have reduced the level of caution in the community, they said.

The committee also identified four sources that possess a high risk of carrying the disease, which are people illegally entering Việt Nam, people legally entering Việt Nam but not strictly applying disease prevention measures, community transmissions, and products imported from foreign countries.

The committee asked the Ministry of Health to review disease prevention guidance and processes, and turn them into a detailed check-list of what should be done to prevent COVID-19.

This requires hospitals’ directors to regularly check up on their companies’ compliance with disease prevention measures, and patients are advised to only go to hospitals where the measures are strictly applied, the committee said.

It also asked the Ministry of Education and Training to lead schools in coming up with their own check-lists to ensure safety for students, and help offices, hotels, factories, production units, and businesses get informed on the lists to raise awareness on COVID-19 prevention and control.

Discussing the country’s future focuses, experts said people illegally entering Việt Nam by road should be strictly prohibited and those with legal entrances carefully supervised.

They also said localities should reinforce health declaration for foreigners entering Việt Nam, get daily updates of their health conditions during quarantine, and apply strict medical supervision.

No new COVID-19 cases were reported on Thursday, keeping the country’s caseload at 1,069, recoveries 991 and fatalities 35.

On Wednesday some 270 Vietnamese citizens were safely bought home from Australia and New Zealand on a Bamboo Airways flight as a joint effort by competent authorities from the three countries.

Vietnamese representative agencies in the two countries have worked with local authorities to facilitate travel of Vietnamese expats to pick-up points at airports in Sydney and Melbourne (Australia).

Vietnamese diplomats were also sent there to assist the citizens with pre-departure procedures until they boarded the flight.

In-flight security and disease preventive measures were strictly implemented.

Upon landing at Cần Thơ International Airport in the Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ, all the flight crew and passengers were given heath checkups and put into compulsory quarantine in accordance with regulations. — VNS