A family returning from Russia wear masks as they arrived at a centralised quarantine facility in Hoà Bình, northern Việt Nam, on October 31. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đạt

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has reaffirmed Việt Nam’s determination to prevent new coronavirus outbreaks as winter nears, as the virus could transmit more easily in cold and dry weather.

During a meeting chaired by head of the committee, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam, participants stressed that wearing masks is an important but simple way to prevent the spread of the pandemic and should be implemented not only in major urban areas but in all wards, communes and townships, in line with the Prime Minister’s Directive.

Hà Nội and HCM City authorities have urged people to consider mandating wearing masks in public places and they will strictly deal with violations, especially at medical and lodging facilities, shopping centres, and on public transport.

Participants also discussed measures to effectively realise the Government’s policy of resuming commercial flights with several countries (so far mostly confined to certain countries in Asia with the pandemic situation under control) to welcome back foreign experts and investors to Việt Nam, contributing to fulfilling the dual goal of fighting the pandemic and promoting economic development.

To date, Việt Nam has gone more than two full months without any community infections.

The Ministry of Health has introduced a plan of safe living with COVID-19, at www.antoancovid.vn, to control any outbreak nationwide. A total of 1,530 hospitals, 145 quarantine facilities, more than 6,500 hotels of three-star standard or higher, and more than 53,800 schools have been updated on the map.

It has also stepped up vaccine research and production and the use of advanced technologies in the fight against COVID-19.

The ministry has established six groups to oversee SARS-CoV-2 testing in Hà Nội on October 30, in Nha Trang on November 3, and in HCM City on November 6.