PM orders close supervision of COVID-19 high-risk groups

The Prime Minister asks for better management and protection of COVID-19 high-risk groups, and treatment improvement to minimize the number of critically ill patients and fatality - Illustration photo

The document was sent to ministers, ministerial-level leaders, heads of local Steering Committees on COVID-19 prevention and control, and chairmen of the provincial and municipal People’s Committees.

The COVID-19 pandemic has developed complicatedly in many countries and territories due to dangerous and fast-spreading variants such as Delta and Omicron.

In Viet Nam, the pandemic has been fundamentally put under control. However, the number of new infections, patients, and fatalities in some localities has yet declined. In addition, a majority of critically ill patients and fatalities has been recorded among high-risk groups including people with chronic diseases, the elderly over 50 years old, pregnant women, including unvaccinated adults. 

Hence, the Government leader underlined the importance of protecting the high-risk groups as the country is safely, flexibly, and effectively adapting to the COVID-19 epidemic, promoting socio-economic recovery and development, and preparing to welcome the New Year and Lunar New Year 2022.

The Prime Minister gave specific tasks to heads of local Steering Committees on COVID-19 prevention and control, and chairmen of the provincial and municipal People’s Committees, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Firstly, the Prime Minister tasked local leaders to closely monitor health of the high-risk groups; make a list of them, their health conditions, and supportive requirements; establish vaccination teams to vaccinate all high-risk people at home. In addition, he stressed the importance of better care and treatment for the high-risk groups in line with guidelines of the Ministry of Health.  

Secondly, the Ministry of Health was assigned to timely allocate vaccines for localities; facilitate COVID-19 treatment drugs towards less administrative procedures; issue instructions on management and care of patients in line with the actual conditions of Viet Nam.

Thirdly, the Ministry of Industry and Trade was tasked to work with the Ministry of Health and local leaders to ensure adequate supply of oxygen at hospitals and medical facilities.

Since the fourth pandemic wave hit the country on April 27, as many as 1,646,033 cases have been discovered, 1,245,423 of this figure have recovered. Viet Nam confirmed 31,214 COVID-related deaths./.

By Kim Anh