Vietnam officials leave National Congress for pandemic fight

Linh Pham

Jan 30, 2021 / 08:28 AM

Heads of local governments are empowered to make decisions on Covid-19 fight.

Heads of many Vietnam’s cities and provinces have proposed the Presidium of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s 13th Congress to leave the ongoing sitting for pandemic battle in their localities.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the meeting on January 29. Photo: VGP

They have been allowed to go back their hometown from Hanoi to directly instruct the Covid-19 fight after the Ministry of Health reported additional 53 locally-transmitted cases on Friday, totaling 149 local infections within four days.

All the new cases are related to Hai Duong and Quang Ninh outbreaks that flared up on January 25, breaking Vietnam’s 55-day streak without community transmission.

Vaccine purchase

Chairing a meeting today [January 29] at the venue of the 13th Congress, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Ministry of Health to propose vaccine purchase plan in the first quarter this year. The purchase will be made by both the state budget and private sector.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said Vietnam has licensed to import a British vaccine. The foreign company pledged to supply 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Vietnam.

Tough measures

Regarding measures for the fight, the PM said chairmen of the provincial people’s committees are empowered to make decisions on the Covid-19 fight, including preventive measures and medical equipment purchase in emergency cases.

Prime Minister Phuc requested quick response to the pandemic, including massive testing, aggressive contact tracing, lockdown, social distancing, and activating field hospitals.

The PM said Vietnam needs to make efforts to contain the virus ahead of Tet holiday (the Lunar New Year) which will start in 10 days.

Covid-19 in Vietnam: Local transmissions rise, field hospitals set up

29 Jan, 15:57

High alert has been turned on in Vietnam again together with the lockdown of a city shortly after community transmission found.

Vietnam suspends passengers and cargo flights from/to Quang Ninh to prevent Covid-19

29 Jan, 15:56

Authorities of Quang Ninh and Hai Duong provinces take measures against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vietnam records 82 new Covid-19 community infections

29 Jan, 09:06

The locally-transmitted infection has prompted direct instructions by the prime minister.

First technical flight safely lands at Vietnam’s US$16-billion international airport

Long Thanh International Airport in Vietnam's southern province of Dong Nai, with an investment of more than US$16 billion, is expected to welcome 25 million passengers each year once operational.

16 Dec, 08:45 AM

Vietnamese professor conferred Honorary Doctorate by Moscow Power Engineering Institute

The conferral of the Honorary Doctorate reflects the enduring friendship between Vietnam and Russia over decades, acknowledges the traditional ties between the two nations’ scientific communities.

16 Dec, 08:43 AM

Party chief urges Hanoi to break bottlenecks, improve livelihoods

At a meeting with voters in central Hanoi, Party General Secretary To Lam highlighted urgent priorities for the capital, from easing traffic congestion and pollution to strengthening grassroots governance under the two-tier local government model.

15 Dec, 08:44 PM

EU praises Vietnam’s creative community for advancing sustainable design

EVSDA 2025 reinforces creativity’s role in driving sustainable development in Vietnam while connecting European and Vietnamese values and highlighting ideas for a greener and more inclusive future.

14 Dec, 05:24 PM

TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 reinforces innovation’s role in powering next growth phase

It is Vietnam's largest annual festival for innovative startups, highlighting inclusive innovation, encouraging technology commercialization and the development of new products to ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s transition to a knowledge-driven economy.

14 Dec, 07:51 AM