Hanoi (VNA) – “Having sacrificedeconomic activities to conduct social distancing, we must achieve the goal ofcontaining the pandemic as early as possible,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told ateleconference on August 29.

The PM, who is also Chairman of theNational Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, presided overthe meeting with 20 provinces and cities, 209 districts and towns, and 1,060communal-level localities nationwide which are currently implementing social distancing measures.

It was reported at the event that in thefourth wave of infections since April 27, the country has recorded 419,617cases, of which 208,176 patients, or 50 percent, have recovered while 10,370 others havesuccumbed to the disease. Eight of the 62 provinces hit by the fourth wave havegone through 14 straight days without new cases while only Cao Bang provincehas stayed free of infections.

Since July 19, 343,686 new cases havebeen found in 23 localities imposing social distancing under the PM’s Directive16/CT-TTg. The daily number of community infections is now on the riseas mass testing is being ramped up.

The pandemic situation remains complex in HoChi Minh City and nearby Binh Duong province. The numbers of community infections in Long An and Tien Giang are still high but there have been signs of declining.Meanwhile, outbreaks have gradually been brought under control in othersouthern provinces.

The pandemic in Hanoi, Da Nang, KhanhHoa, and Phu Yen are basically still under control thanks to the application ofdrastic measures, including early social distancing. However, new hotbeds maystill occur, according to the report.

PM Chinh said as the COVID-19 pandemicremains complicated and unpredictable in the world and the region, it isnecessary to get prepared for living with and adapting to the pandemic, while continuing with drastic measures to bring the pandemic under control so as to shift focus on political andsocio-economic development tasks.

Repeatingthe request for putting people’s health and lives first and above all, he stressed:“Having sacrificed economic activities to conduct social distancing, we must achievethe goal of containing the pandemic as early as possible.”

He said social distancing must becarried out seriously and strictly to make use of this period to rapidlyconduct testing and vaccination in a scientific, effective, and comprehensivemanner.

TheGovernment leader told all-level authorities to ensure social security,especially for disadvantaged families, the homeless and vulnerable groups, duringthe social distancing period as well as people’s access to grassroots healthcare for the early detection and treatent of patients.

“Thebest vaccine is the vaccine administered earliest,” PM Chinh affirmed, notingthat the Government, sectors, and localities have been working actively toimplement the vaccine diplomacy so as to obtain vaccines as early and many aspossible.

Domestic vaccine production is alsoshowing a positive prospect, he added.

The PM also asked localities toconsider reducing the population density in highly populous areas, assist businesses tokeep production chains uninterrupted, and step up the application of sci-tech advances to the COVID-19fight.

He affirmed that anti-pandemic measuresare being implemented in the right direction, calling on localities to mobilisethe combined strength of the entire political system, people, and businessesfor the battle against COVID-19./.