Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, chairs an online briefing with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Pham Kien/VNA)

The Deputy Prime Minister urged the city to strengthen transport of newly-infectious cases to treatment facilities, especially those with worsening symptoms. Ho Chi Minh City needs to ensure the supply of essential goods and food to stabilize people's lives and encourage people to share the immediate difficulties to strictly comply with social distancing regulations.

Deputy Prime Minister Dam requested quicker testing, saying forces need to quickly collect samples, organize testing, and isolate all infection cases from the community.

On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh inspected COVID-19 prevention and control of in Dong Thap province. He underscored Dong Thap's goal of reducing the number of cases and deaths during the social distancing period, and at the same time protect production activities of enterprises to both fight pandemic and develop economy.

The province needs to focus on mobilizing resources for COVID-19 prevention and control, carry out social and security work, and help vulnerable and disadvantaged people, Mr. Binh said.