Vietnam PM Cautions about Risk of COVID-19 Outbreak as Winter Nearing

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has warned of the possible risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) re-emergence as the winter is nearing, state media reported. PM Phuc made the alert at a government meeting on fighting the disease on October 19. At the meeting, the Vietnamese government leader hailed the recent efforts of localities and sectors to contain the disease after nearly 50 days without COVID-19 community infections. Mr. Phuc asked localities and sectors to continue strong anti-disease measures, tighten their management over foreign entries, and ensure the dual goals of curbing the disease and developing the economy. He also ordered the health sector to prepare for the testing resources of COVID-19 and some other infectious diseases for locals in flood-hit areas. Vietnam recorded six new imported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections over the weekend, bringing the country’s total to 1,140 as of October 20 morning, the national steering committee on fighting the disease announced. The country has so far gone through 48 consecutive days without recording any new community infection cases of COVID-19, the committee added. As of October 19, the country recorded 35 deaths and 1,046 recoveries. (Bao Chinh Phu, BNews, Tuoi Tre, english.Saigon Times, Thanh Nien, VietnamNews, QDND, Lao Dong, ncov.moh)