The WHO's updated report shows that from July 10 to August 6, the world had nearly 1.5 million new infections, an 80% increase compared to the previous 4 weeks. However, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 decreased by 57%, to 2,500, also during this period.

To continue to proactively implement epidemic prevention and control measures; not to be subjective, negligent, or lose vigilance in order to contribute to creating favorable conditions for socio-economic development, the Ministry of Health has sent an official dispatch to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities on proactively implementing epidemic prevention and control work.

Treatment for Covid-19 patients at a hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts (USA). Photo: VNA

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to continue to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the directions of the Government and the Prime Minister on epidemic prevention and control; effectively implement Resolution No. 38/NQ-CP dated March 17, 2022 of the Government and the instructions of the Ministry of Health on the prevention and control of Covid-19 and other infectious diseases such as dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease... to prevent the epidemic from breaking out again and minimize the risk of overlapping epidemics.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities are directed to continue to proactively monitor and closely follow the epidemic situation in the area; prepare response plans for possible epidemic situations; continue to promote surveillance, early detection and timely handling of cases and outbreaks and effectively implement the expanded immunization program in 2023 and Covid-19 vaccination.

At the same time, localities are directed to closely coordinate with the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur and Hospitals under the Ministry of Health to collect samples, sequence genes to promptly detect new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and promptly report to the Ministry of Health when new variants are detected.

The Ministry of Health also requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to continue to organize well and prepare plans for patient admission and treatment; strictly implement infection control and effectively deploy line-level direction, improve diagnosis and treatment capacity; continue to ensure logistics, funding, drugs, vaccines, biological products, supplies, chemicals, equipment, and human resources to be ready to serve the work of epidemic prevention and control.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, former Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) said that in the current context, Vietnam needs to continue to closely monitor information from the World Health Organization on the spread and virulence of new variants, including the EG.5 Omicron sub-variant.

In addition, people need to continue to take preventive measures such as wearing masks in risky areas, when in contact with people with suspected symptoms, regularly disinfecting hands, getting vaccinated... Pay special attention to high-risk groups, people with underlying diseases, people with weakened immune systems...

VNA

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