Attending the meeting at the Government Headquarters were Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh; Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and other members of the Steering Committee; leaders of central departments, ministries and branches. At the local bridge points, there were Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and leaders of relevant departments and branches who are members of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of provinces and cities.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the 20th meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA.
According to the Steering Committee, since the beginning of the pandemic, the country has recorded over 11.5 million COVID-19 cases, including more than 43,100 deaths (0.37%). From the beginning of 2023 to May 29, the country recorded 85,493 cases, an average of 17,000 cases per month, down 8.5 times compared to 2021, down 48 times compared to 2022; the mortality rate (number of deaths/number of cases) dropped sharply to 0.02%. The deaths recorded during this period were all cases with serious underlying diseases that were being treated before, most of whom had a history of not receiving enough doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, the rate of hospitalization for COVID-19 is lower than some group B infectious diseases and the severe rate is also equal to or lower than some group B infectious diseases such as dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease. Currently, the conditions are met to move COVID-19 from group A infectious disease to group B.
Globally, on May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but the pandemic is not over yet. WHO recommends that countries transition from emergency response to sustainable, integrated, long-term management of other threats.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan reports on the situation of COVID-19 prevention and control. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA.
WHO recommends that Vietnam should not be subjective, negligent, or lose vigilance, continue to maintain national capacity, achievements, and prepare for possible future events, avoid possible health system overload; include COVID-19 vaccination in national immunization; focus on key and focal surveillance to promptly detect new variants; improve treatment capacity to reduce the number of deaths; prepare vaccines, diagnostic and treatment equipment, ensure long-term and always available supply chains; continue to communicate and mobilize community participation; review and update the national response plan, be ready and flexible; research, transfer of vaccine technology and learn about post-COVID-19 related conditions; need to closely monitor in the context of increasing infections, be ready to improve intensive care capacity to ensure that when the number of cases increases, the health system is not overloaded.
The Steering Committee assessed that Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP dated October 11, 2021 of the Government has created an important legal basis to help localities issue and implement administrative and medical measures appropriate to the epidemic levels in the area, which is the basis for the People's Committees of provinces and cities to develop, organize and implement plans to "safely and flexibly adapt to and effectively control the COVID-19 epidemic".
Delegates also said that the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 has decreased sharply, the causative agent of the disease, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been identified, and the COVID-19 epidemic is still under control. COVID-19 has met the criteria for group B infectious diseases as prescribed in Point b, Clause 1, Article 3 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. Accordingly, the Government, ministries, branches, forces, and localities need to adjust regulations, policies, conditions, requirements, etc. to suit the new situation; at the same time, review, synthesize, handle related issues and summarize, evaluate the overall and detailed contents related to COVID-19 prevention and control in the past 3 years.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the 20th meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA.
After listening to the reports and discussions of the members of the Steering Committee, leaders of ministries, branches and localities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State, Government and the Steering Committee, acknowledged, commended and highly appreciated the members of the National Steering Committee and the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control at all levels in leading and directing the implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control tasks; the accompaniment, support and close coordination of the National Assembly have created an important legal basis to help localities issue and implement administrative and medical measures appropriate to the epidemic levels in the area, which is the basis for the People's Committees of provinces and cities to develop, organize and implement plans for "safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of COVID-19".
The Prime Minister emphasized that in Vietnam, the number of infections and deaths has decreased sharply compared to 2021 and 2022. However, the announcement of the end of the COVID-19 epidemic will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of law, along with other related adjustments.
According to the Prime Minister, the COVID-19 pandemic has surprised the whole world. For Vietnam, this is the first time it has had to deal with unprecedented, long-lasting difficulties and challenges, in the context of the country's difficulties. Thanks to the leadership of the Party, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; the support of the National Assembly; the determination of the Government; the participation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, the entire population, businesses and international friends, Vietnam has effectively prevented and fought the epidemic. "This victory is the victory of the people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam," the Prime Minister affirmed.
In the process of preventing and fighting the epidemic, we have come up with pillars, formulas, and flexible epidemic prevention and control measures suitable to the situation. Thanks to that, Vietnam has soon opened its economy, welcomed international visitors, and contributed to the recovery and development of the socio-economy. According to the Prime Minister, besides success, Vietnam has also gone through a very difficult time, with huge losses.
“I share the losses that the people have suffered, especially the losses of the forces participating in the prevention and control of the epidemic, protecting the health and lives of the people; I thank comrades, compatriots at home and abroad and international friends for helping Vietnam overcome the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Prime Minister was moved.
The 20th meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA.
The Prime Minister said that the pandemic cannot be ended in the coming time, especially the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are still prolonged. Therefore, the work of preventing and fighting the pandemic must continue, especially improving the capacity of grassroots health care, preventive medicine and overcoming the consequences; continuing to stabilize people's lives, especially those directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; organizing summaries and preliminary summaries to draw lessons for preventing and fighting other epidemics; organizing commendations and rewards for good collectives and individuals, as well as handling and drawing lessons for behaviors that need to be condemned...
The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Health to guide ministries, branches, sectors and localities to summarize the work of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 epidemic; review relevant legal documents to adjust them appropriately to the new situation; continue to handle unfinished and backlogged related work; develop a plan to sustainably control COVID-19 in the new period, as well as other possible epidemics; and carry out appropriate COVID-19 vaccination. The People's Committees of provinces and cities shall, based on legal provisions and instructions from ministries and branches, especially the Ministry of Health, review the situation, announce the epidemic status, and implement related contents in the area.
The Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control requested ministries and branches to continue mobilizing and using resources for COVID-19 prevention and control and overcoming the consequences of the pandemic; continue to do social security work; step up communication to recommend, explain, and analyze for people to understand and implement; organize a summary of COVID-19 prevention and control work within the scope, functions, and tasks of the unit; continue to promptly resolve policies and regimes; and thoroughly handle related backlogs according to the conclusions of the Central Government and the Government.
The Prime Minister said that the Steering Committee will be reorganized to suit the new situation. On this occasion, on behalf of the Steering Committee, the Prime Minister thanked the Party for its timely leadership and direction, the National Assembly for its support, the participation of the entire political system, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, compatriots and soldiers nationwide, overseas Vietnamese and international friends for joining hands and solidarity to help Vietnam overcome the pandemic.
According to VNA/Tin Tuc Newspaper
Source link
Comment (0)