Chairing a teleconference with 63 cities and provinces on January 27, PM Chinh, who is also Head of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, said though the pandemic has been under control, it remains complicated with the emergence of Omicron and possibly other new variants.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaking at the meeting.

Accordingly, he asked the Ministry of Health (MoH) to promptly submit legal documents on the Programme on Covid-19 Prevention and Control for 2022-2023 to the Government for consideration and issuance, and continue fine-tuning and supplementing anti-pandemic principles based on the realites.

The PM requested the MoH to work closely with localities to accelerate vaccinations this spring, step up the recognition and production of domestically-made vaccines and medicines, ensuring that the process is carried out in a scientific, open and transparent manner.

Toward the goal of minimising infections, serious cases and deaths, the MoH must fully prepare infrastructure to cope with contingencies and ensure regular health check-ups for citizens.

The Ministry of Education and Training was assigned to build and issue new prevention and control measures in the new conditions to re-open schools as soon as possible in a safe and effective way.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and tourism must build a roadmap to resume tourism activities no later than April 30 – May 1, PM Chinh stressed.

At the same time, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Public Security, National Defence, and Transport will rearrange entry-exit activities safely and conveniently.

With the motto of leaving no one behind, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs must ensure social welfare for all residents, especially a warm and happy Tet for them, the government leader noted.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was urged to ensure sufficient supply of goods and prevent price speculation, especially necessities during Tet.

According to the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Vietnam recorded over 2.1 million Covid-19 cases during the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections as of January 26, over 1.9 million of them recovered. So far, as many as 166 cases related to Omicron variant have been found, including six in the country.

Vietnam is striving to finish the injection of the second shot to children aged 12-17 by late January and the third shot to those aged above 18 by the end of the first quarter this year.

Domestic flights increased, Covid testing requirement scrapped as Tet nears

With travel demand picking up ahead of the Lunar New Year, airlines have increased flights to major cities and tourist hubs and ended Covid-19 testing requirements for flyers.

Vietnam receives 6.3 mln Covid vaccine doses from Europe

Germany, the U.K., Portugal and Luxembourg have handed over 6.27 million additional Covid-19 vaccine doses, increasing Vietnam's Covax facility receipt to over 51 million doses.

Overseas Vietnamese honoured for contributions to homeland’s Covid-19 combat

Overseas Vietnamese (OV) who have made great contributions to the home country's Covid-19 fight and development, were honoured in a meeting on January 22 within the framework of the annual “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring) programme 2022.

Update of Covid-19 new cases in Vietnam on Jan. 21 afternoon

Update of Covid-19 new cases in Vietnam on Jan. 21 afternoon.

PM proposes AstraZeneca continue supplying Covid-19 vaccine, treatment drugs

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 19 for Nitin Kapoor, President for Asia Area Frontier Markets at AstraZeneca, and Chairman and General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam.

Source: NDO/VNA