Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính visits Bắc Giang Province on Saturday to guide COVID-19 prevention and control work. — VNA/VNS Photo

BẮC GIANG — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has asked ministries and agencies to tackle difficulties in the two neighbouring northern provinces of Bắc Giang and Bắc Ninh, considered hotspots in Việt Nam's fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, in the fight against the outbreaks.

He urged the Bắc Giang to avoid saying they lack money, human resources and policies and mechanisms.

During a meeting with local authorities on Saturday, PM Chính called for the protection of people’s health and lives to be the main concerns.

Assigning Deputy Prime Minister Lê Văn Thành to directly take charge of fighting the pandemic and restoring production and business in the province, the PM requested continuing to enhance the management of all workforce there.

The Health Ministry was asked to send more medical students to Bắc Giang tif necessary while the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs must immediately offer support to workers and residents hit by the pandemic.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was required to adopt modern technology to manage labourers, especially workers.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Dương Văn Thái said as of May 29 morning, three clusters were found with 2,025 infection cases, including one death.

The province already evacuated 3,000 out of 7,100 people out of concentrated quarantine facilities to prevent local infections.

In the immediate future, the provincial authorities will also create conditions for 34 firms at the least risk, several others at low and medium risks in the global manufacturing chain to resume operations.

Following the working session, the PM visited officers and soldiers of Regiment 831 under the provincial Military Command.

The Regiment now has 130 medical staff from the Military Medical University 103 and officers from the Việt Nam – Russia Tropical Centre who are assisting the province in collecting samples for COVID-19 testing.

The leader wished that they would work with the nation to help Bắc Giang soon drive back the pandemic and stabilise production.

The same day, the Government leader visited Bắc Ninh Province to motivate frontline workers and people in the fight against the pandemic.

Đào Hồng Lan, Secretary of Bắc Ninh Party Committee, said the province is vaccinating workers in industrial zones. She noted the outbreak is within control, but there is still a risk of new flare-ups in the community.

PM Chính noted that Bắc Ninh was home to many workers from other localities, which makes it harder to contain outbreaks. He commended Bắc Ninh's measures in controlling the virus, including only letting businesses who satisfy COVID-19 safety guidelines resume business, and strict management of workers in both quarantined and free areas.

He urged the province to strengthen testing especially in high-risk areas like industrial zones, and arrange for workers to eat and sleep in the factories they work in to avoid community spread. — VNS