The order was made as the country is experiencing the resurgence of local infections and preparing for upcoming national election.

In the dispatch dated on Sunday, he tasked ministers, secretaries of provincial/municipal party committees, and chairpersons of provincial/municipal People’s Committees to continue following guidelines of the Secretariat, Government, Prime Minister, National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control as well as the COVID-19 response regulations of the Health Ministry.

Those who display negligence, lack of responsibility or fail to seriously follow the guidelines and regulations must be strictly punished in line with the Party regulations and State laws.

They were asked to review and perfect precautious measures, take responsibility for the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control and socio-economic development.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered subordinate levels to further improve the efficiency of the fight against COVID-19.

The Government chief commended efforts made by authorities of Vinh Phuc, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong and Lam Dong in taking prompt and proactive measures to control the pandemic.

Pham also ordered Da Nang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Khanh Hoa to timely rectify the observation of the instructions adopted by the Ministry of Health, especially mask wearing and distance keeping in public places.

Localities such as Vinh Long, Dong Thap and Tien Giang must accelerate the implementation of the Ministry of Health’s recommendations on expanding COVID-19 test capacity, the PM required.

He tasked authorities of Da Nang, Ha Nam and Yen Bai to clarify collective and individual responsibilities for the recent outbreaks. (A Vietnamese man (who is a native of Ha Nam) and a Chinese national tested positive for COVID-19 after completing 14-day mandatory quarantine period in Da Nang and Yen Bai, respectively, leading to resurgence of local infections in several provinces and cities over the past days).

The ministries of health, foreign affairs, national defense, public security, and transport were urged to strictly control the entry of overseas Vietnamese, foreign experts and skilled technicians.

He called on front liners to uphold the sense of responsibility in the fight against the pandemic, saying that the Government acknowledges and appreciates their efforts.

The PM assigned the Ministry of Health to beef up the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program and purchase more vaccines in a transparent and open manner.

The ministry is also responsible for developing and submitting a response plan to a scenario of having 30,000 infection cases to the Government at its upcoming meeting.

The Government chief assigned Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, to comprehensively oversee the pandemic prevention and control work, report to the Prime Minister if necessary./.