Park said what Vietnam has done in urgently establishing intensive care units (ICU) in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern localities to treat severe Covid-19 patients was necessary to reduce mortality.

A doctor helps a Covid-19 patient who has just escaped death drink some water at the HCMC Covid-19 Resuscitation Hospital in Thu Duc City, July 2021.

Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the Delta variant has made the current wave very different from previous ones, causing it to last longer and making it more difficult to control.

The ongoing wave has lasted for 100 days and more than 177,000 community infections have been recorded in 62 of Vietnam's 63 cities and provinces.

HCMC, the epicenter with 108,379 cases, is now equipped with five ICU centers that provide 2,700 beds in total.

Vietnam has applied stronger measures than it did in previous waves, with localities banning people from going out at night and only allowing outdoor venturing for specific, essential purposes.

Yet the rapid increase in infections in a short period of time as well as in the number of critical patients has put great pressure on the health system, Long said.

Along with the efforts to save serious patients and limit deaths, the Ministry of Health is approaching all possible sources of vaccine supply urgently, trying to vaccinate all adults as soon as possible.

However, vaccine supply remains a big challenge, especially for the months of August and September.

While continuing to source vaccine supplies from abroad, the ministry has been supporting domestic vaccine production, focusing on simplifying administrative procedures so that made-in-Vietnam vaccines can be approved as soon as they are proved to be completely safe and in compliance with all health regulations and procedures.

Park said "Vietnam's response has been on the right track," adding that the WHO was willing to support the ministry with professional training and infection prevention measures for health workers.

He said the WHO is also committed to supporting Vietnam in testing, evaluating, and licensing homemade Covid-19 vaccines via the national management system for vaccines.

Currently, Vietnam is one of 39 countries certified by WHO as meeting standards for domestic development and production of vaccines.

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PM sends encouragement letter to frontline workers in Covid-19 fight

The Party, State and people appreciate and highly value the contributions, sacrifices and efforts made by those working on the front line against Covid-19, especially the medical staff, emphasised Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in a letter of encouragement to the frontline workers.

Covid-19 treatment hospital to be set up in Hanoi

A hospital providing treatment for Covid-19 patients in Hanoi and northern localities will be set up at the Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said on August 2.

Hanoi to feed poor, vulnerable amid Covid social distancing

Hanoi will supply food to the poor and other vulnerable communities amid the ongoing Covid-19 social distancing order, the People's Committee said Sunday.

Bac Giang continues donating to provincies and cities in Covid-19 fight

(BGO) – With the motto of “The whole nation for Bac Giang province, Bac Giang province for the whole nation”, right after the fleet of trucks carrying 170 tonnes of donated commodities to Ho Chi Minh city and Dong Nai province to fight against Covid-19, the provincial Fatherland Front’s Committee and local socio-political organizations continue calling for officials, staff, members and people to donate foods and necessities, starting from July 26 to August 6, 2021 for second period.

Source: VnExpress