The statement was released at a meeting hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, with members of the steering committee (including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Information and Communications, and Information Analysis Team) in Hanoi on July 31.

In the face of complicated epidemic situation in Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring localities, Deputy PM Dam noted that following the meeting held by the Government with 63 provinces and cities to discuss the implementation of urgent COVID-19 prevention and control measures under the Resolution of the first session of the 15th National Assembly on July 30, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded that the highest priority must be given to vaccination against COVID-19 to achieve herd immunity in the localities.

The Deputy PM also asked Ho Chi Minh City to coordinate with the Ministry of Health to urgently develop a plan for production and business after vaccination is fully completed for people of all ages.

At the meeting, the Steering committee also urged the Ministry of Health to review statistics towards promptly updating the number of people infected and killed by COVID-19 on the principle of publicity and transparency.

The Steering Committee agreed on the principle of strictly implementing social distancing, and no one was allowed to leave the isolated area, except with an official and special permit from the authorities. Localities that do not control the people going out of their areas will be held responsible by the PM.

As of July 31, Ho Chi Minh City has been allocated three million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, equivalent to about 22.3% of vaccination needs for people aged 18 years and older.

* Also yesterday, a delegation of the Ministry of Health led by Minister Nguyen Thanh Long worked in Vinh Long Province on the prevention and control of COVID-19.

He asked the locality to be vigilant and prepare for a worse scenario due to larger number of cases detected through community screening.

* While working with Can Tho City Party Committee and People’s Committee on July 31, Minister Long said that Can Tho must strictly implement social distancing to control the source of infection.

He required the local authorities to provide enough necessities and essentials for the people in blockaded areas.