An overview of the meeting.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI  — Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam asked for increased efforts to prevent the interruption of production chains in COVID-19-hit localities.

He was speaking during a virtual meeting held on Thursday with leaders of Bắc Giang and Bắc Ninh provinces, the current largest COVID-19 hot spots in the country.

He said that the localities should consider piloting home quarantine under supervision for F1 cases if their quarantine facilities become overloaded.

After isolating outbreaks in the community, Bắc Ninh has been making efforts to keep industrial parks (IP) operating, according to Chairwoman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyễn Hương Giang. 

She said that as of Thursday, Bắc Ninh has detected 371 COVID-19 cases in eight districts and Bắc Ninh City, including six in IPs.

Bắc Ninh IPs employ almost 500,000 workers, she said, adding that the locality’s testing capacity is still below the required level.

However, Bắc Ninh is determined to avoid the closure of IPs by applying strict preventive and control measures, Giang stressed.

Meanwhile, Bắc Giang reported that the number of infections will rise in the coming days, but all in quarantine facilities.

According to Chairman of the Bắc Giang People’s Committee Lê Anh Dương, after closing four IPs and applying social distancing in four districts as well Bắc Giang City, the province has managed to monitor all workers connected to the outbreaks and focused on preventing the pandemic from spreading to the community.

He said that currently, the risks of COVID-19 spreading are isolated at IPs and the outbreak in Thuận Thành District of the neighbouring province of Bắc Ninh.

The COVID-19 testing capacity of Bắc Giang has reached 100,000 samples per day, he said, adding that the province has eight hospitals with 1,280 beds for COVID-19 treatment, while another temporary hospital with 300 beds will be launched on May 25, and another 600-bed hospital is being set up.

Deputy PM Đam, who is head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said that Bắc Giang should review each company in IPs, and allow those which effectively enforce COVID-19 prevention and control regulations to resume operations, especially those engaging in the supply chain for large-scale and multinational groups like Samsung.

He asked Bắc Giang to install camera systems and other technology in quarantine sites, and Bắc Ninh to consider piloting home quarantine for F1 cases when concentrated quarantine sites are overload.

Along with improving its testing capacity, Bắc Ninh should consider instructing workers on how to take their samples themselves for quick testing under medical supervision, he suggested.

The Deputy PM added that the two provinces should expand health declarations in the community, towards having all residents make such declarations. — VNS